Modern English - A BOX OF... Modern English (17 x CDs)
A BUTTERBOY SPECIAL
on these larger ear worm one hit wonders!
17 ALBUMS!!!
A BOX OF...
Modern English - A BOX OF... Modern English (17 x CDs)
"Gather in, let’s talk about Modern English, because their story is far richer, stranger and more rewarding than the single song most people know them for.
They began in Colchester in 1979, part of that art‑school post‑punk wave where young musicians were experimenting with sound, texture and mood rather than chasing chart success. Early Modern English were angular, abrasive and wonderfully odd. Mesh & Lace from 1981 is the clearest snapshot of that beginning, metallic guitars, stark rhythms, surreal imagery, and a sense of emotional distance that felt completely in step with the era’s underground energy. They weren’t trying to be accessible, they were trying to be interesting.
But something changed as they moved into the early ’80s. The band didn’t abandon their experimental roots; they simply learned how to fold melody and warmth into the tension. After the Snow and Ricochet Days brought a shimmering, romantic quality to their sound, still atmospheric, still dreamlike, but suddenly capable of reaching a wider audience. “I Melt With You” became the unexpected breakthrough, a song that carried their introspective style into mainstream consciousness without compromising who they were.
Their later albums show a band continually reshaping its identity. Stop Start and Pillow Lips explored more polished production and personal songwriting. Soundtrack and Take Me to the Trees returned to the atmospheric guitar‑driven feel of their early years, but with the maturity of musicians who had lived through several eras of change. Even the most recent record, 1 2 3 4, carries that same blend of clarity and introspection, proof that they never lost the thread of what made them Modern English in the first place.
Popularity? They were never a chart‑chasing band. They had one global hit, yes, but their real legacy sits in the albums, in the way they balanced art‑school abstraction with emotional resonance. Their live recordings, from In Concert to After the Snow – Live from Indigo at The O2, show how strong that connection remains. They’re a band whose music ages well because it was never built on trends, it was built on atmosphere, feeling and craft.
So what can you expect from this set is there full development from the fractured post‑punk beginnings, the melodic and romantic middle period, the reflective later years, and the rare tracks that fill in the spaces between. Mesh & Lace gives you the raw experimentation. Ricochet Days and Stop Start show the band at their most expansive. Pillow Lips captures their early ’90s shift. The compilations and live albums reveal how their songs breathe on stage. Take Me to the Trees and 1 2 3 4 prove they’re still capable of making music that feels both familiar and new.
In short, this collection lets you hear Modern English as they really are, not just the band behind one iconic song, but artists who spent four decades exploring mood, texture and emotion. It’s a journey worth taking, and every album in this set adds a different shade to the picture." (Butterboy)
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As a bonus I have included my compilation titled Modern English A Listening Experience (A Butterboy Compilation)...
This set is built to guide a listener through a complete emotional journey. It begins with sounds that feel tight and tense, like a space that has not yet opened. These early tracks move in sharp lines and repeating patterns, creating a sense of anticipation. As the sequence continues, the music becomes brighter and more spacious. The tones stretch outward, the rhythms soften, and the voice becomes warmer. This shift feels like stepping from a narrow corridor into open air.
The middle of the set carries the listener forward with steady movement. The songs feel wider, more colourful, and more confident. They create a sensation of travelling, not standing still. Later tracks introduce calm and reflection. The sounds become smoother, the pace slows, and the atmosphere deepens. It feels like watching light change across a landscape.
The final pieces return to energy and purpose. They move with clarity and strength, echoing the beginning but with greater focus. The journey ends not in silence, but in momentum. This set works because it changes shape as it moves, offering tension, lift, warmth, depth, and renewal in one continuous line. (Butterboy)
http://KEXP.ORG presents Modern English performing “I Melt With You” live in the KEXP studio. Recorded June 2, 2023
Robbie Grey - VocalsGabriel Sullivan - Guitar, VocalsMick Conroy - BassRic Chandler - DrumsSteve Walker - Keys
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