About this item

“Dub Sex’s music is a stark but galvanising post-punk surge – reverberant drums and cheese-wire guitar plus a what-it-says-on-the-tin dub-edge to the bass. But it’s Hoyle’s voice that dominates the recordings – a hugely expressive thing without obvious parallel” - Roy Wilkinson, Mojo ‘Buried Treasures’ 2014. 

Dub Sex release ‘Search For The Right Words’ – a complete 23 track compilation of their studio works brought together for the first time. CD digipack with 24 page booklet.

Originally released on a series of EPs and mini-albums between 1987-89, most of these recordings are long-deleted and several have never previously been made available in a digital format. The package also includes unreleased John Peel session tracks and an Edward Barton cover recorded for a compilation tribute album.

The band reformed in 2014 playing a handful of festival dates and low-key headline shows in Manchester and London. With core members Mark Hoyle (vocals/guitar), Cathy Brooks (bass) and former guitarist Chris Bridgett (guitar), Dub Sex will be playing more dates in 2019.

“Dub Sex are one of the great lost Manchester bands; they made an unsettling yet hypnotic grinding music with these great loping bass lines, and were fronted by the charismatically awkward Mark Hoyle whose twitching presence, unique hollering and impassioned vocal style de ned the band” John Robb, Louder Than War 2014.

“What makes you really want to take the next train to Manchester is the way (they) assimilate two music’s that always left you feeling dwarfed and abandoned; one is Joy Division’s black marble, the other white pop’s meeting with dub (PIL etc.).” Paul Oldfield, Melody Maker 1989. 

“Dub Sex are a great raging awkward intensity ... (they) come from right inside the skull. Guitar and drums latch onto an idea and dive deep, ever more knotted and resonant as Hoyle howls pained words. This compilation - dark, devious and deviant - is genuinely capable of taking my breath away.” Ian Gittins, Melody Maker ‘Splintered Faith’ review 1989. 

“Dub Sex, one of my very favourites” John Peel BBC Radio 1 1988.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: If you know anything about Manchester music, you already know Dub Sex, but for those of you that don't, one of John Peel's favourite bands are a shadowy, rawkous, simmering burst of chaos and fire, and thoroughly essential listening.

TRACK LISTING

1. Then And Now
2. Tripwire!
3. The Underneath
4. Swerve
5. Push!
6. Caved In
7. North By North-East
8. Instead Of Flowers
9. Kicking The Corpse Around
10. Man On The Inside
11. Splintered
12. I Am Not Afraid
13. Green
14. Time Of Life
15. Kumina
16. Kritallnacht
17. The Big Freeze
18. Play Street
19. Every Secret (That I Ever Had)
20. Snapper
21. Voice Of Reason
22. Believe
23. Barber Barber