Modern English is an English post-punk and new wave band formed in 1979 in Colchester, Essex. The group began as The Lepers and later changed its name after developing a sound shaped by the late-1970s UK post-punk scene. Early releases were issued on 4AD, and their 1981 debut album, Mesh & Lace, established their darker, guitar-driven style. The band is best known for the 1982 song "I Melt with You," from the album After the Snow. Modern English's catalog moved between post-punk and more accessible new wave material, and the group has remained active in various lineups over time. In live settings, they are identified with their early-1980s material and their broader post-punk repertoire.