Mesh
The Point At Which It Falls Apart
(Dependent Records)
Describing Mesh’s 1999 second album (or ‘sophomore’ as some would call it) as ‘breakthrough’, although accurate in artistic terms, is slightly misleading. Having put a stake in the ground with the excellent dark synth pop of their debut EP "Fragile" in 1994 and long player "In this Place Forever" two years later in 1996, the stage was set for Mesh to really go places. Really, really, go places. Riding on the back of public excitement for alternative dystopian electronic goth pop and dance, you’d think that an act like Mesh would be a shoo in.
When the stunning ‘The Point At Which It Falls Apart’ was released, it felt like the stars were aligned, and it did well in Europe, in particular in Germany, where they still enjoy a strong fan base and draw big crowds. However, major success at home and stateside proved elusive and, despite the songs and performances here putting what some say are their closest comparators, Depeche Mode, to shame, they could not emulate the same level of success. We all have bands that we know should have done much better, and we cannot understand why they didn’t scale the heights. Music is full of such tales. Mesh is one of those tales. That it is a criminal shame goes without saying.
Putting that all to one side, 25 years on ‘The Point At Which It Falls Apart’ is still a stonking album, with every track crafted to perfection. With this sort of electronic music, the production is everything. Drums need to snap, synths need to be glacially pristine, sequencers need to drill through the mix, and vocals need to be spot on. The mix needs to be precise and every instrument has to be positioned perfectly. No prizes for guessing what I am going to say next. Yes, that’s right, Mesh have totally nailed it on this album. It is rare to have an album that works both as individual songs, and as a whole. That quality makes this a perfect fit for both the Spotify generation, and vinyl junkies (even though this comes on CD).
I caught them live at Camden Underworld in 1999, shortly after the album’s original release and, if anything, the songs sounded even better live than on record, muscular anthemic ear worms all. This album has remained in my record collection ever since. The reissue offers the opportunity to bring advances in music technology to bear and re-master the album for a new audience. It sounds great and is accompanied by a 48 page artbook too. It may be too late now to wind the clock back and give Mesh the rewards they so richly deserved, but I genuinely hope that they will find a new audience off the back of this, and these songs will get a fresh airing and appreciation.
Despite line up changes down the years, Mesh are still here, with the original core duo of Mark Hockings and Richard Silverthorn intact and currently in the process of writing the next Mesh studio album, and planning festival appearances. This reissue should re-kindle interest. Let’s hope so, as any self-respecting fan of electronic music should have at least one Mesh album in their collection, and this would certainly be the one to go for.
If there is any justice in the world, ‘The Point At Which It Falls Apart’ will genuinely break through this time round and see Mesh claim the crown they are due.
Essential Information: "The Point at Which It Falls Apart" is released as a 48-page 2CD hardcover artbook on 22nd November on Dependent Records