Debut album from Modern English on the 4AD label. This wasn’t released in the US formally until the 2012 CD reissue and then 2016 on vinyl.

The debut is a bit darker and more derivative of Joy Division than some of the later work but still a really strong collection of songs.

I always loved the lyric from “I Melt With You”: “never realizing it was always mesh & lace” but didn’t recognize at the time it was something of a reference to their debut.

My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5—is a UK pressing by WEA in West Drayton, with the original inner sleeve.