Modern English - New Album, 2016 tour!
"We have some brilliant songs. And that's why we decided to do the pledge music campaign.”
A music fan's dream; Backstage, on stage, private gigs in the dressing room or even at your home, autographed items, dinner, guitar lessons or so much more. Now THAT's what we call Pledge Music - The Modern English way!
The band's new album is available to pre-order via an awesome campaign with some unbelievable items, access and experiences on offer (and hundreds of takers, already) via http://pledgemusic.com/projects/modernenglish
There's a great story behind all this. Tucked away on the disused Rendlesham air force base (yes the famed UFO sighting one) the original line up of Modern English are recording their first album together in over twenty years. This unique band have been on permanent radio playlists in the USA since 1982 with their seminal hit single, 'I'll Melt With You’.
Part of the second British Invasion of America in the early 80s (alongside alt pop peers like Depeche Mode, Police, Cure, Duran Duran, Human League etc ), they are so iconic that the lyrics, “I'll stop the world and melt with you”, even appear as answers on Wheel of Fortune!
Now gearing up for this, their fourth album release, and a global 2016, their incredible story all started by accident.
"All we wanted was to be played on John Peel's radio show" Mick tells The Zine over a lovely cup of coffee in Suffolk. Mick Conroy is founding member and multi-instrumentalist.
"We went from playing the ICA (Institute for Contempory Arts in Central London) to being signed by Warner / Sire in the USA, being on constant rotation on the new phenomenon that was MTV and playing the infamous MTV Spring Break gigs to 20,000 people in less than two months."
"We were in shock that so many people had heard of us, and were going bananas when they heard us play 'I'll Melt With You’ in that period. It was nuts! We were on MTV on heavy rotation and people were recognising us in the streets. From then on we were permanently touring America over the next three years”
Modern English are an alternative force credited with influencing major artists all over the world.
James Murphy, front man of of LCD Soundsystem is a big fan of 'Dance Of Devotion''. It's the closing track of their debut studio album, 'Mesh & Lace'. He acclaims the track as “possibly one of the best and most underrated screaming British punk/new wave songs”. As for the album that it is taken from, he calls it “a sneaky secret that everyone writes off, because they just think it's going to be a 'Melt With You' but sounds way scarier than any Joy Division record."
Their inspiration has crossed to many sounds and experiences, as Mick recalls; "I played in other bands like Stereolab and Moose, and have lived in New York, working for Chris Blackwell at Palm Pictures".
For This Mortal Coil (video; a cover of Tim Buckley's 'Song To The Siren'), Mick played along with Martyn Young (of Colourbox and M/A/R/R/S ‘Pump up the Volume' fame) and CocteauTwins members Elisabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie. Modern English, themselves, have been one of those strange beasts that have smashed the USA, but barely made a dent back home.
We asked Mick what has brought them back to the UK, and recording their fourth album together. “I moved to Suffolk where Robbie Grey, our lead singer, lives and egged on by friends we were inspired to start writing together again with the involvement of Martyn Young. "We have some brilliant songs. And that's why we decided to do the pledge music campaign.”
TheZineUK had a the pleasure of a sneaky listen, and we can't wait to hear the rest when it's done!
Over the last six years, Modern English have toured not only North America, but all over the world. They are performing on the 80's Caribbean Cruise (sailing in February/March 2016 and hosted by MTV) then in May 2016 the band are setting off on another 25 date North American tour. The UK and Europe can catch them live on stage in July.
Very modern!
Get involved! http://pledgemusic.com/projects/modernenglish