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The debut album by this overlooked 4AD outfit from Colchester in Essex. In many ways, Modern English helped to define the sound and image of that pioneering label; while admittedly pretentious at times, they were also sharp-edged, intellectual, and obsessed with aestheticism. The standouts here are the title track, "Smiles and Laughter," and "Gathering Dust," an epic post-punk exercise in aural dynamics. The keyboard rush that they employ is one of the punkiest uses of Stephen Walker's synthesizer imaginable -- at least prior to the development of the industrial movement.
© Alex Ogg /TiVo
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Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Sally Beamish, AssociatedPerformer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Nick Barnard, AssociatedPerformer - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Michael Conroy, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary McDowell, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Walker, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Grey, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Brown, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Modern English, MainArtist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Momentum 3 Music, MusicPublisher
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
Album review
The debut album by this overlooked 4AD outfit from Colchester in Essex. In many ways, Modern English helped to define the sound and image of that pioneering label; while admittedly pretentious at times, they were also sharp-edged, intellectual, and obsessed with aestheticism. The standouts here are the title track, "Smiles and Laughter," and "Gathering Dust," an epic post-punk exercise in aural dynamics. The keyboard rush that they employ is one of the punkiest uses of Stephen Walker's synthesizer imaginable -- at least prior to the development of the industrial movement.
© Alex Ogg /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 01:12:23
- Main artists: Modern English
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: 4AD
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
1981 4AD Ltd 1981 4AD Ltd
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