Doves

[staffsblue]

Another track released from the forthcoming album as just played by Steve Lamacq on 6Music. Maida Vale session also to be broadcast at 18:00 this evening...

 

[manimanc]

Love the new track.
Can't wait for the album.

 

[manimanc]

Have just had Saint Teresa on repeat on the way into work. 40mins of it blasting through my ears.
It is a piece of pure beauty.

 

[urban genie]

loving the new track and cannot wait forn6th March, shame Jimi still unlikely but still should be a crackimg night

 

[staffsblue]

If anyone missed the 6Music Maida Vale session yesterday, it's 2 hours into the show. A very good interview with Jez and Andy too...

Steve Lamacq - Doves in Session - BBC Sounds

Doves are in session from the BBC's Maida Vale studios.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[bluejon]

loving the new track and cannot wait forn6th March, shame Jimi still unlikely but still should be a crackimg night

was meant to be going to this but travelling back from london that night, gutted. enjoy mate, it will be brilliant

 

[urban genie]

was meant to be going to this but travelling back from london that night, gutted. enjoy mate, it will be brilliant

you out saturday?

 

[bluejon]

you out saturday?

i am mate, defo. i'll chuck you a message

 

[RACHACE]

Can't want to see them at Aviva Studios next month. Won't be same without Jimi but will still be decent. They sounded good last night on 6 music.

Will hopefully get to see them play a few tracks off the Universal Want album from 2020.

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

If anyone missed the 6Music Maida Vale session yesterday, it's 2 hours into the show. A very good interview with Jez and Andy too...

Steve Lamacq - Doves in Session - BBC Sounds

Doves are in session from the BBC's Maida Vale studios.

www.bbc.co.uk

That was a great interview. Thanks for the heads up to start at 2 hours in.

That's the first time I've heard Jez sing lead on "Renegade".

"Cold Dreaming" sounded very nice, and of course it is obvious that I'm a HUGE fan of the old song they did ;-), the first time hearing Jez lead that on vocals.

I enjoyed that guitar solo too, and I need to catch them live!

Steve Lamacq said it best at the end too: "still an emotional powerhouse of a band".

 

[Bluemoon dan]

Just seen they are playing at the Piece Hall next August. It's a Saturday and the season will have started so a bit of a risk getting tickets but should be a great gig if fixtures permit!

Events for August 2025

www.thepiecehall.co.uk

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

Doves have released their 4th single today: "A Drop In The Ocean"

Nice write-up in the below with a link to the song video. Jimi's vocals and bass on this track was quite welcome to hear, glad to read he wrote the verses too.

Doves Release New Single “A Drop in the Ocean”

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www.undertheradarmag.com

 

[manimanc]

 

[manimanc]

Let's get it on.

 

[chesterbells]

Just seen they are playing at the Piece Hall next August. It's a Saturday and the season will have started so a bit of a risk getting tickets but should be a great gig if fixtures permit!

Events for August 2025

www.thepiecehall.co.uk

Outstanding venue that is (as long as it ain’t raining). You got tickets?

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

Let's get it on.

Lucky you - I still have a few hours to go...

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

Doves also headline Sunday 31 August at the Moseley Folk & Arts Festival.

The Waterboys headline Friday and Father John Misty on Saturday. Getting tempted...

Moseley Folk & Arts Festival | 4-6th Sept 2026

Family-friendly Festival with a healthy mix of traditional, contemporary and experimental folk music. Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Moseley, Birmingham.

moseleyfolk.co.uk

 

[Manchester1894]

Feels like an album polished in production but I just can't help this nagging feeling the Williams brothers might have rushed Jimi on this one. They've admitted on one of the singles they did vocals as he wasn't available and that's pretty obvious on the album (4/5 without JG I think). They've even said vocals weren't great from Jimi on Renegade too. I get they wanted to tour but think they maybe should have just gone out as Jez and Andy doing anniversary stuff for a year.

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

Feels like an album polished in production but I just can't help this nagging feeling the Williams brothers might have rushed Jimi on this one. They've admitted on one of the singles they did vocals as he wasn't available and that's pretty obvious on the album (4/5 without JG I think). They've even said vocals weren't great from Jimi on Renegade too. I get they wanted to tour but think they maybe should have just gone out as Jez and Andy doing anniversary stuff for a year.

Not sure how you get 4/5 without JG as he's singing on 7 out 10 tracks, but that's just my maths.

I like Jimi's vocals on "Renegade" and I also think "Cold Dreaming" is a perfect Williams brothers lead vocals and harmonies there. In fact, I can't imagine that song done any other way.

I'm glad we have it and I've been impressed with the positive reviews for the album I've read from the critics thus far. I wasn't expecting THAT from them...

Twenty-five years since their debut, Doves have produced their masterpiece

A gorgeous, melancholic record about despair, hope and calm after the storm from the underrated rockers. Plus this week’s best new songs

www.telegraph.co.uk

Constellations For The Lonely by Doves

Constellations For The Lonely by Doves album reviews & Metacritic score: This is the first full-length studio release from British rock trio Doves since 2020's The Universal Want....

www.metacritic.com

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

I've had the weekend to listen, and overall, I've been very happy with this album and the varied songs, and especially the flow of the songs.

Standouts to me of new songs not yet heard include "Strange Weather" and "Last Year's Man", in the album's middle. LYM especially had some nostalgic Doves melodies and had a "Lost Souls" vibe to it, as well as using the harmonica effectively.

But I know and I know, and I know and I know it's a game
This game we play
I'm trying to get through the day and feel no shame
I feel no shame​

The album ends well as "Orlando" as the penultimate track was a nice change-up song which really quieted things down and highlighted Jimi's vocal delivery among the quite synth and piano melodies to carry it along.

But I was not prepared for what is clearly my favourite, the stunning closer in "Southern Bell".

A quiet and inauspicious start, I wasn't sure where this was going, but the lyrics said it all:

Let's spend some time
In this fading light
My only friend
From the other side
​

The lyrics in capturing the album's theme was spot on, and I really liked the vocal transition from Jez to Jimi at 2:00 in. Just a brilliant and a powerful effect and closer once Jimi leads:

Wake up, it's morning
Are these our last days?
It takes strength
And courage just to die this way
And you'll never be alone again​

and then the band is harmonizing to the end:

Now you're here with me my friend
By facing the desert sun
And we'll go on
We'll go on forever

One last chance
Let's see this through
Catch that breeze in our hands
Where we'll it go?
We can't lose
Come on, let's take this chance
And you'll never be alone again
Now you're here with me my friend
By facing the fading light
And we'll go on
We'll go on forever more
​

Up until the haunting solo delivery on the ending:

And you'll never
Be alone
Again
​

A very personal and endearing album on perseverance. Thank you, Doves. The album title well captures the overall mood of this release as only this band could deliver.