Here are my thoughts on the new Doves album Constellations For The Lonely.
Doves at their soulful, wistful best.
Renegade was not the obvious choice for the first single for me. So what do I know?! That does give you an idea of how strong the album is. In retrospect, it is indeed the perfect first single. The lyrics set the scene for the rest of the album ahead. Renegade is sung with a beautiful melancholy vocal that only Jimi Goodwin can deliver. The track wetted fans’ appetites for what is to follow.
Cold Dreaming is the track that Andy & Jez have been teasing for years. They knew what they had, as this is a bonafide ‘banger’. First teased in May of 2018 when they were working on the second Black Rivers LP. Both Andy & Jez share lead vocals. Andy’s opening line “God knows it ain’t easy. But I can’t live my days in fear” is one of the many highlights of the LP. Whether the lyrics speak of a relationship or friendship gone bad or perhaps a band that was on the cusp of breaking up. We can all relate to the lyrics, while the euphoria of the synths, guitars (Jetstream, anyone?!), strings, and everything else thrown in the mix, make this a true classic Doves single. Stunning! I assumed this would have been the lead track from the album. I guess it is, as I’ve no doubt anyone who was waiting to pre-order the album, will do so on the strength of this single.
In The Butterfly House The odd opening sets the tone of this eerily filmic-soundtrack-like tune. Jimi’s vocals start with spoken word, this different approach sets the scene beautifully. For me, it could be about a book, such as “The Secret Garden”. Dreamy!
Strange Weather Jez’s shimmering vocal on this track has a warmness to it that sets the scene beautifully. His vocal is the focal instrument, to begin with. The music builds and builds from a chilled campfire guitar to an all-out storm of menacing-sounding guitars & synths. I’m not entirely sure they’re commenting on the state of the world today, but that’s what I get from this track. A beautiful opening that turns into a frightening-sounding horror movie-like ending that would fit well in any John Carpenter movie.
A Drop In The Ocean The most direct track of the album. You can imagine this track starting life in a live rehearsal room. This could have easily been the first single. Jez’s glacial-sounding guitar work in between Jimi’s lead bass line and Andy’s hypnotic drumming is enthralling.
You are the reason
You are the air
A drop in the ocean
You will not be able to get Jimi’s vocal delivery of those lyrics out of your head. It’s seriously some of his best vocals to date. And he gets better! (See, Saint Teresa).
Last Year’s Man For Tomorrow was the fan’s favourite from The Universal Want. This could be the fan’s favorite on Constellations. This is the latest installment to be added to Doves’ catalog of possible James Bond theme tunes. A huge track that again sounds filmic. It’s utterly mesmerizing! The lyrics will speak for themselves. Andy’s vocal delivery is brilliant. One of his career best. Jez’s guitar sounds huge among the lush mandolin & strings wall of sound. It’s incredibly satisfying. The harmonica! Martin Rebelski’s piano just adds another layer of warmth. Shades of Sea Song! Sublime. A live must for the live shows later this year.
Stupid Schemes On my first listen to the album, this track came as a relief. It’s been heavy up to this point. I mean, heavy with a capital H! This track is Doves’ doing soul! Think of The Isley Brothers. Jez’s multilayered spiraling guitar riffs are an absolute joy. Expect to be raising your hands at each note. It’s glorious.
Old songs, and way homes, and yearning
Wonder and wander
Oh, I should be turning.
Jimi croons. Doves at their soulful, wistful best.
Saint Teresa My favourite track on the album. This track started public life with some record stores that had incorrectly listed Saint Teresa on the track listing for The Universal Want. This gives you an idea of how close this track was to making it on the last LP. The band has since said that Cycle of Hurt, which was one of the last tracks written for The Universal Want, replaced Saint Teresa. It was then anticipated Saint Teresa would be released the following year as part of an EP. Fast forward five years and the track finally finds its home on Constellations. Boy, was it worth the wait! The band are at their very best on this track. It has a 10:03-like vocal intro & outro. Jimi’s voice has never sounded so good. Jez’s cinematic chiming guitar riffs along with Andy’s delicate drum approach, drive this majestic tune to a creative peak for Doves. My favourite part of the entire album is two minutes into this track. Just when you think the song is going to keep on building, they bring the tempo back down, while Jimi’s delivery of the poignant lyrics hits home. I’m not at all religious but you don’t need to be, to be moved by the brilliance of this track. If Doves has written a better track, I’ve yet to hear it. Magnificent. Cathartic, even.
I said reach for me
Reach for me
Reach for me
Reach for me now
Orlando is the album’s fractured masterpiece. Not for the first time, Wim Wender’s 1984 movie ‘Paris, Texas‘ inspires Doves. A track about someone who tries to reconnect with the life they once knew. Jimi’s melancholy vocal sits above everything in the mix with a solemn piano before the track flickers to life, albeit temporarily, before the fractured piano sound gets interrupted with movie-like flashbacks After the epic high of Saint Teresa, this is perfectly placed, quite the beautiful comedown.
Southern Bell A spaghetti western Kingdom of Rust intro guitar riff gives way to some heavy lyrics. This album opens with some suggestions about walking out on maybe a relationship or indeed a band. Southern Bell takes that one further, as the lyrics speak of walking out on life forever, though perhaps metaphorically.
Wake up it’s morning
Are these our last days?
It takes strength and courage just to die this way
The spaghetti western guitar riff weaves its way throughout the first half of the track and is complimented by more beautiful piano work from presumably, Martin Rebelski. Jez shares vocals with Jimi until the halfway point when the track takes a completely different turn. An almost Darker or Firesuite-like tone of Jez’s electric guitar comes in before Jimi’s vocal takes the track and album to its chaotic, stormy conclusion. It’s a hugely satisfying end to the album, that leaves you wanting more.
Constellations For The Lonely has memorable melodies, riffs, and more that will make it appeal to the masses. For me, it is the depth of sound throughout that gives me the most joy. The sounds that lie beneath the beautiful melodies & riffs are out of this world, even for Doves, who are obviously no strangers to creating multi-layered music. As with all Doves albums, it’s best listened to on headphones. You’ll hear a different sound with every listen.
Constellations For The Lonely will easily sit with Doves’ best work to date. There will be comparisons to their past work no doubt as Doves do what they do best on this album. This may be Doves’ most complete album since Lost Souls. Best listened to as a complete work from beginning to end. This is Doves at their soulful, wistful best.
Pre-order your copy at dovesofficial.com