Modern English - Mesh & Lace

Originally released in 1981 on 4AD, Mesh & Lace marked the striking debut of English post-punk innovators Modern English. Now reissued on vinyl with digitally remastered audio and re-imagined artwork by Vaughan Oliver—the visionary designer behind the band’s classic 4AD covers—this edition reintroduces a record that remains a cornerstone of the early ’80s underground.

Darker, more abrasive, and more experimental than the polished new wave direction the band would take later, Mesh & Lace is steeped in the shadowy atmosphere of post-punk’s first wave. The album blends jagged guitars, stark electronics, and dissonant textures into a sound that reflects both the alienation and the creative urgency of the era. Tracks like “Gathering Dust” and “16 Days” captured a restless energy that set Modern English apart from their peers, offering a raw counterpart to the more melodic pop direction they would explore on After the Snow.

Both historically significant and sonically compelling, Mesh & Lace is essential listening for fans of 4AD’s formative years, post-punk devotees, and anyone interested in the jagged, experimental edge of early ’80s alternative music.