Sub Sub

Sub Sub will probably be always known as the band that Doves used to be. However, in the early ’90s Sub Sub was one of the most promising acts to originate from the drug-fueled rave scene in Manchester, England. Featuring twins Jez Williams and Andy Williams and classmate Jimi Goodwin, Sub Sub’s acid house sound exemplified the trippy music emanating from England’s underground dance clubs. In 1993, Sub Sub’s single “Ain’t No Love (Ain’t No Use)” landed at number three on the U.K. charts. In addition, Sub Sub collaborated with Tricky and New Order frontman Bernard Sumner. In 1995, Sub Sub released Full Fathom Five. But Sub Sub’s future also became hazy that year. While the Williams brothers were celebrating their birthday, an electrical fire consumed Sub Sub’s studio. All of their recordings and equipment vanished in the flames. While Sub Sub was already evolving before the fire, in 1998 they dumped their techno rhythms and became Doves. Replacing their turntables and computers with rock & roll instruments, Doves released their debut album, Lost Souls, in 2000. The success of “Ain’t No Love (Ain’t No Use)” had stereotyped Sub Sub as a disco outfit, but Doves enabled them to explore their admiration for the Velvet Underground and the Smiths. ~ Michael Sutton