The Mob - No Doves Fly Here (Preorder 08/08/25)

The Mob - No Doves Fly Here (Preorder 08/08/25)

Label: Crass Records - 321984/7R - 5016958107413
Format: 12"
Country: UK
Released: 8th Aug 2025
Genre: Punk
Style: Punk

Description
Punk pioneers Crass continue their vinyl reissue series,
re-pressing their limited releases by adjacent artists through
Crass Records, in association with One Little Independent. The
series, including over twenty bands and solo artists recorded at
the legendary Southern Studios and produced by Penny Rimbaud,
continues with two more historic pieces from the Crass Records
catalogue; The Snipers’ ‘ Three Peace Suite’ & The Mobs’ ‘No
Doves Fly Here’.

Recorded over two intense days in September 1981 at Southern Studios, No
Doves Fly Here by The Mob stands as a raw, unorthodox moment in
anarcho-punk history. Produced by Penny Rimbaud and engineered alongside
John Loder, the session saw Crass members and others pitch in — brewing
endless pots of strong tea and occasionally manning a four-foot gong hired
specially for the track. Mark, frontman of The Mob, recalls recording vocals
word-by-word, a painstaking shift from the live takes of their previous releases.
The result: a hauntingly deliberate performance unlike anything else on the Crass
label. Paired with I Hear You Laughing, a live favorite, the single is a testament to
the spirit of experimentation, DIY collaboration, and creative trust that defined
the era.

Penny Rimbaud tells us; “Mirroring John and Yoko’s ‘peace not war’ profundities,
The Mob’s ‘No Doves Fly Here’ stands out as one of the great classic tracks of the
punk era. Profound in its poetics, and poignantly atmospheric in its arrangement,
it expresses so much of the hopes and aspirations that later became known as
‘anarcho-punk’ (hitherto the ‘peace movement’). ‘War is over if you want it’, the
dream is not over.”

Penny finally notes that “Our (Crass’) interest was never in personalities, profits or
power, and neither did we have time for reformist liberals. Our position was
solidly revolutionary; we took no prisoners. Ours wasn’t a show, it was a battle,
not a living, but a lifestyle, a lifestyle with a difference – rather than looking only
to ourselves, we sought to share our gains. I feel that this willingness added
great strength to the form of anarchism that we practiced both on stage and out
on the street.”

In giving a platform to an impressive array of other bands, Crass Records
broadened the front of what popularly became known as anarcho-punk. Not, it
must be said, a moniker that Crass themselves much favoured. In this respect,
Crass’ classic line, “There is no authority but yourself”, makes its point. Crass
sought to empower others, and the output of Crass Records does much to
confirm this, while ‘2 By 2 And Back Again’ seems to nail it – “get out of your own
way, we’re all in this together”.

Tracklist

No Doves Fly
Here

I Hear You
Laughin