Sub-Stance
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Formed from the ashes of London band Guns For Hire, Department S released three abrasive pop singles during 1980 and 1981, including Going Left-Right, I Want and Is Vic There?, the latter reaching #22 on the UK national singles chart in April 1981, earning the band several appearances on Top of the Pops and a Smash Hits cover!
Despite this flirtation with mainstream success, and a busy live schedule, an impressive debut album titled Sub-Stance (produced by Parallel Lines engineer David Tickle) went unreleased after the band fragmented. On this remastered set the 12 tracks from the lost album are augmented by singles and b-sides.
"With so many bright new hopes openly worshipping at the altar of scratchy, early 80s UK punk-funk (PiL, Gang of Four), it now seems doubly outrageous that Department S were denied the album release of this like-minded debut at the time. Vaughn Toulouse would savour the overdue recognition this should grant him" (Uncut, 04/2003)
"A band full of energy and attitude, with a lead guitarist - Mike Herbage - of considerable ability" (Record Collector, 03/2003)
"An excellent anthology that should go a long way towards re-establishing Department S as every bit the legend they once threatened to be" (Goldmine, 05/2003)
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