doves

Bomb Shelter Review

Friend of the blog, Harry has uploaded his own unique review at his excellent blog:

ThaBombShelter

“Birds Flew Backwards”

Out here all alone feels right. It was too busy in the city, too many people, too much motion. Now it’s just the birds and the grass and the sky. The car is out of sight and the clouds look incredible. When you close your eyes you can still see the sun and the blue and the shapes. You stare up, the grass cool on the backs of your ears and the back of your neck and you smile. Calm.

To read the entire review, click here.

The Observer have also given the album a short review:

Kingdom of Rust is filled with images of journeys made across gritty northern landscapes: a train traveller speeds towards his beloved in “10.03”; lovers climb “Winter Hill”; and in “Birds Flew Backwards” swallows arrive, signalling the start of summer. Such imagery seems apt for this Mancunian band whose sound has, after nine years and three successful but hardly groundbreaking albums, arrived somewhere really interesting. More confident and complex than previous Doves output, Kingdom of Rust’s guitar-driven, dance-music-influenced tracks feel intimate yet epic.

Archive: BBC Radio 4 Loose Ends Show, April 4th 2009

Doves performed a semi-acoustic version of Kingdom Of Rust, on BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends show, broadcast April 4th. The show will no longer be available to “listen again” via the BBC’s iPlayer, after today.

Click here to download a zip file containing an archived MP3.

Please note that the MP3 file is of low-quality, due to it being transcoded from its original lossy source.

Review Round-Up #11

Yet more reviews!

outblush.com, Album Review:

outblush.com

Kingdom of Rust by Doves

At last, Doves return with their first album in four long years, Kingdom of Rust ($14)—and trust us when we say that it was worth the wait. If you liked the British trio’s previous work, there’s nothing you won’t love here. The album is rich with brooding vocals, intense guitar riffs and songs that stick. Unfamiliar? Think U2 or Coldplay and you’ve got a starting point. Stand-outs include “Compulsion,” “House of Mirrors,” and the title track.

Live Daily.com, Album Review:

Live Daily.com

The band’s on far surer footing when it doesn’t deviate from the classic Doves sound. It’s not surprising that the first single is the title track, with its wonderfully gloomy, country-style shuffle and chiming, bell-like flourishes. My other favorite, and hopeful contender for second single, is “Winter Hill,” a nice little rocker with a psychedelic whirlwind of a middle section.”

To read the full review, click here.

NYLON Mag Online, ‘The Outsiders’ Review:

NYLON Mag Online

Doves –The Outsiders

Doves ain’t a sexy band (blokey, beardy and almost certainly a little bit bald…), but they’re a bloody good one. Like Elbow, they’ve been grafting in the Brit-rock gutter watching mates like Coldplay rob all their best ideas and bag all the awards, money and Hollywood wives for nearly a decade now. Do the right thing and actually go and buy new album Kingdom of Rust after you’ve checked this tune out on myspace. – because man cannot live by critical acclaim alone.
myspace.com/dovesmyspace

Belfast Telegraph Interview

Another good interview. This time with the Belfast Telegraph. Doves play Belfast Ulster Hall April 19th, Andy Williams spoke to Andy Welch:

“House Of Mirrors nearly didn’t make it on to the album because we couldn’t end it. Fortunately, Dan was messing around with [recording software] Pro Tools in the studio, and accidentally put the verse vocals over the chorus music. We all heard it and said ‘That’s it! How did we not think of that?’ That’s where technology can really help you out.”

To read the full article, click here.

Jimi Chooses Q The Music’s Friday "Track Of The Day"

For the last installment of doves guest editors appearance at Q music online. Jimi has chosen ‘Omega Time’ by Malakai, to be Q The Music’s Friday “Track Of The Day”, as part of Doves’ role as guest editors of the website this week.

Jimi Goodwin (Doves): “From their album ‘The Ugly Side of Love’. Bristol madness! Think Jeff Barrett (Doves’ label boss at Heavenly Records) turned us on to this. Reminds me of things like Madvillain/Madlib/Edan psychedelic hip hop. Really thrilled that they’re going to be supporting us on our April/May tour.”

Here’s a quick recap of the week’s picks.

Monday: Jacob and the Angel by the Invisible (Jimi)
Tuesday: Tonight’s Today by Jack Penate (Jez)
Wednesday: Sea Within A Sea by the Horrors (Andy)
Thursday: Extinction by the Soft Pack (Jimi)

Andy & Jez also talked to Q about all the albums. Here are the links:

Lost Souls (Andy)
The Last Broadcast (Jez)
Some Cities (Andy)
Kingdom Of Rust (Jez)

If you still have not got enough doves at Q. Then check out doves greatest hits page here.

Independent Article

The Independent have interviewed the band. Its a really good article:

“Are we going to do an Elbow?” guitarist Jez Williams says. “We’re all immensely proud. The response has been amazing, but I am not going to say we’re going to win the Mercury. It’s a bit of a weird thing to contemplate whether we’re going to do as well as Elbow.”

Front-man Jimi Goodwin adds: “They’re our mates and we’re so proud of them. There are similarities –they’ve worked doggedly and been dropped, they’ve had their share of woes, but they never contemplated splitting; they’re like brothers who obviously still enjoy making music together. It’s funny. They must have had years of being compared to us.”

To read the full article, click here.

Archive: BBC Radio 1 Evening Session

Here is a gem from the past. As requested at doves board.

Steve Lamacq’s Evening Session Sept 25th 2000. Many thanks to Jag, I can offer these mp3s in good 320 bitrate quality.

Tracklisting:

1. Valley
2. Blue Water
3. The Man Who Told Everything
4. Gone ‘Til November

Enjoy!

Archive: XFM Xposure Show, March 31st 2009

Jimi and Andy recently gave a track by track commentary of each track from the Kingdom Of Rust album, to XFM DJ John Kennedy, on XFM Radio’s Xposure show, broadcast March 31st.

Click here to download a zip file containing archived MP3s.

Please note that the MP3 files are of low-quality due to their being transcoded from their original lossy source.

Hop Farm

Here’s a new one. Doves will perform at this year’s hop farm festival along with Paul Weller, The Editors & The Bunnymen. Doves will play Sunday July 5th.

Check out the festival website for more details.

Kingdom Of Rust – In Their Own Words

The NME have put up a video of Jimi & Andy talking about the album track by track. It’s a great watch. Click here to view the video.