Manchester trio Doves return with their fifth studio album, The Universal Want, released on September 11, 2020. Comprising Jimi Goodwin (vocals, bass, guitar), Jez Williams (guitar, vocals), and Andy Williams (drums, vocals), with unofficial fourth member Martin Rebelski (keyboards, multi-instrumentalist) contributing on tour, this marks their first collective work since 2009’s Kingdom of Rust.
Following an 11-year hiatus, during which Goodwin released a solo album and the Williams brothers formed Black Rivers, the band gradually reunited in 2017, laying the groundwork for this long-awaited record. Their performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust in March 2019—following a personal invitation from Roger Daltrey—reignited their passion for live music and cemented their decision to release new material. Spanning recordings from 2017 to 2019, The Universal Want sees Doves refining their signature sound while expanding into new sonic landscapes.
The album opens with Carousels, which initially feels like classic Doves territory until an intricate drum loop, sampled from the late Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen, takes center stage. Goodwin’s evocative vocals conjure childhood memories of fairground rides, while the layered instrumentation and poignant piano flourishes build an immersive, nostalgic atmosphere. The track’s video, filled with an almost claustrophobic sense of movement, adds another layer of depth, reflecting the lockdown era in which the album was completed.
I Will Not Hide begins with an almost cartoonish vocal snippet before transforming into an anthemic declaration of resilience. The refrain—”I will not yield, I will not hide”—is backed by shimmering ’80s-style synths, a pulsating beat, and swirling guitars. A female backing vocal enriches the track’s sonic texture, making it an uplifting and defiant highlight.
For Tomorrow stands out with its irresistible blend of ’60s and ’70s soul influences. The uplifting lyrics—”For tomorrow, we will live again… no more sorrow, you will love again”—radiate hope, offering a moment of pure catharsis. Meanwhile, Cathedrals of the Mind plunges listeners into a kaleidoscopic, dreamlike soundscape. Trippy, electronic, and deeply poetic, the track evokes an expansive inner world, its accompanying video amplifying this sense of limitless imagination. Jez Williams has mentioned that the song was influenced by the passing of David Bowie, but its themes allow for personal interpretation, making it a standout moment on the record.
Prisoners follows with an urgent, Northern soul-inflected energy. Goodwin’s impassioned vocals convey a sense of desperation and defiance, reinforced by the driving beat. The lyrics—”We’re just prisoners of this life… but we won’t be for long”—resonate with the uncertainty of modern times, while imagery of “dusty halls and hollow shopping malls” echoes a distinctly English melancholy reminiscent of The Kinks. The track’s hypnotic, psychedelic video recalls the aesthetic of The Man Who Fell to Earth, further amplifying its raw power.
Mother Silverlake shifts gears with an intoxicating, groove-heavy atmosphere, featuring Jimi and Jez sharing vocal duties over funk-infused rhythms and a jazz-tinged backdrop. The title track, The Universal Want, starts as a tender piano ballad before gradually intensifying, culminating in a euphoric crescendo reminiscent of Primal Scream’s Movin’ On Up. As the track fades into a rave-tinged, Madchester-inspired outro, it subtly nods to the band’s early days as Sub Sub.
Closing the album, Forest House offers a moment of serenity, beginning with delicate acoustic guitar and childlike chimes. Goodwin’s soothing vocals guide the listener through a dreamlike landscape—”Walk past pines, to the forest house, through the forest gates”—imbuing the track with an ethereal, fairytale-like quality.
Doves have returned with a sense of renewal and purpose, proving that the long wait was more than justified. The Universal Want is a masterclass in balancing nostalgia with reinvention, emotion with sonic experimentation. This album fires on all cylinders, reaffirming the band’s place as one of Britain’s most vital musical forces. The Northern souls are back—and better than ever.
Be the first to comment