Sub Sub

Sub Sub}
Origin	Handforth, Cheshire, England
Genres	House; Acid house; Alternative dance; Rave; Ambient;
Years active	1991–1998
Labels	Ten Records; Rob's Records; Cortex;
Website
Members
Current members
Past members	Jimi Goodwin; Andy Williams; Jez Williams

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Sub Sub were an English electronic dance act from Handforth, Cheshire, active during the early 1990s. The group consisted of Jimi Goodwin and twin brothers Andy and Jez Williams. Emerging from the Manchester rave scene, they achieved mainstream recognition with the 1993 single "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)", which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. After a studio fire in 1996 effectively ended the band, the three members regrouped as the indie rock act Doves in 1998.

History

Formation and early years (1986–1991)

Jimi Goodwin first met Andy and Jez Williams while attending Wilmslow Comprehensive School around 1986. The members had previously been involved in separate local acts: Goodwin played guitar in a band called The Risk, while the Williams twins performed in a group named Static Mist (originally called Open View), who made a television appearance on the children's programme Saturday Superstore. Jez Williams also played in a band called Metro Trinity alongside Johnny Male, later of Republica.

The three reconnected at The Haçienda in Manchester around 1988, by which time Goodwin was playing with the Joe Roberts band. It was through this connection that they met Dave Rofe, who would become their manager. The Williams twins had already prepared a track called "Spaceface" as the basis for a debut release.

In early 1991, "Spaceface" was independently released as a 12-inch single, backed with "EktoJam-Sub", the first track co-written with Goodwin. An initial pressing of 500 copies sold out quickly; further pressings brought total sales to around 2,000 copies, sold through record shops and from the back of the band's cars. Club play of the record attracted wider attention.

Signing and breakthrough (1992–1993)

On the strength of "Spaceface"'s underground success, Sub Sub signed with Virgin Records' Ten Records subsidiary, which re-released the single in January 1992 to moderate success. Virgin declined to commission further material after hearing the band's proposed follow-up, and the group began looking for a new deal.

Through manager Dave Rofe, Sub Sub were introduced to Rob Gretton at the Dry Bar on Oldham Street, Manchester. Gretton agreed to release Sub Sub material on his Rob's Records imprint on a 50/50 financial basis. Their debut release on the label was the Coast EP in June 1992.

In April 1993, Sub Sub released "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)", featuring guest vocalist Melanie Williams, a singer known for her work with Temper Temper. The track sampled "Good Morning Starshine" by Revelation, which had appeared on a 1979 disco compilation. The single became a surprise commercial hit, selling over 750,000 copies and spending eleven weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number three. The success earned the band an appearance on Top of the Pops and a performance at an awards ceremony in Paris.

Full Fathom Five and later singles (1994–1997)

With income from "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)", the group established their own recording studio on Blossom Street in the Ancoats area of Manchester.

Sub Sub's only studio album, Full Fathom Five, was released in September 1994 on Rob's Records. The record blended house, downtempo, and ambient elements. Notable tracks included "Respect", a funky house number with soulful vocals, and "Angel", which combined ethereal ambient textures with deep house rhythms.

Following the album, the band released two further singles. "Smoking Beagles" (December 1996) was co-written and featured Tricky. "This Time I'm Not Wrong" (August 1997) followed as their final release on Rob's Records, with B-sides including an early version of "Firesuite", a song that would later be reworked by Doves. During this period, Goodwin also played bass with Electronic, the alternative dance project formed by New Order's Bernard Sumner and ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.

Studio fire and dissolution (1996–1998)

On 18 February 1996 — the Williams twins' birthday — a fire destroyed the band's Ancoats recording studio. Nearly all equipment and unreleased recordings were lost, though some DAT tapes survived. Insurance payouts were credited by the band as essential to their ability to continue.

In 1998, an archival collection of unreleased material from sessions spanning 1991 to 1996 was issued as Delta Tapes on the Cortex and Rob's Records labels. The nine-track compilation included early demos and recovered material, among them a version of "This Time I'm Not Wrong" featuring Bernard Sumner.

Reformation as Doves (1998–present)

After the studio fire, the three members stepped back from Sub Sub's electronic sound. In 1998 they reconvened as Doves, pursuing a more guitar-oriented indie rock direction. Doves went on to considerable critical and commercial success, releasing five studio albums between 2000 and 2022, and winning the Mercury Prize in 2002 for The Last Broadcast.

Musical style

Sub Sub's sound emerged from the early 1990s Manchester rave scene, rooted in house music while incorporating elements of acid house, ambient music, and alternative dance. Their production relied on hardware synthesizers, drum machines, and samplers to build layered electronic textures suited to club environments. The band is frequently associated with the Madchester movement, which combined acid house rhythms with indie and psychedelic influences centred on venues such as The Haçienda.

Members

Jimi Goodwin – programming, production, bass
Andy Williams – programming, production
Jez Williams – programming, production

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Title	Label	Notes
1994	Full Fathom Five	Rob's Records
1998	Delta Tapes	Cortex / Rob's Records	Compilation of unreleased material; released posthumously

Singles

Year	Title	Label	Chart position (UK)
1991	"Spaceface" (independent)	–	–
1992	"Spaceface" (re-release)	Ten Records	–
1992	Coast EP	Rob's Records	–
1993	"Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (feat. Melanie Williams)	Rob's Records	3
1996	"Smoking Beagles" (feat. Tricky)	Rob's Records	–
1997	"This Time I'm Not Wrong"	Rob's Records	–

External links

Sub Sub history at Doves Music Blog
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