The Universal Want
The comeback album after ten years, and their third UK number one.
Doves, 2020
- Released
- 11 September 2020
- Studio
- Frank Bough Sound III, Cheshire; Big Red Studios, Macclesfield; EVE Studios, Stockport; Vada Studios, Alcester
- Label
- Heavenly Recordings and Virgin/EMI
- Producer
- Doves and Dan Austin
Doves were on hiatus from 2010. Goodwin released the solo album Odludek in 2014, and the Williams brothers released a self-titled Black Rivers album in 2015. The band announced their return in December 2018. "Carousels", their first new song in ten years, came out on 18 June 2020, followed by "Prisoners" and "Cathedrals of the Mind".
The album was produced by Doves with Dan Austin, partly at a barn studio in Cheshire. Andy Williams said the time apart brought a renewed appreciation of what each of them brought, and the band gave each other more room than they had on Kingdom of Rust. Tony Allen played drums on "Carousels". It is the only Doves album on which Goodwin sings lead on every track, though Jez Williams shares the lead on "Mother Silverlake". The cover photograph is by Maria Lax.
It went in at number one in its first week. Ian Cohen of Pitchfork called it Doves' first filler-free album. The tour was cancelled in October 2021 because of Goodwin's mental health, and the band returned with Constellations for the Lonely on 28 February 2025.
Track listing
- Carousels4:50
- I Will Not Hide4:15
- Broken Eyes4:15
- For Tomorrow5:28
- Cathedrals of the Mind5:20
- Prisoners4:26
- Cycle of Hurt4:15
- Mother Silverlake5:13
- Universal Want5:21
- Forest House3:43
Personnel
- Jimi Goodwin lead vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, programming, production
- Jez Williams guitars, backing vocals, synthesiser, string arrangements, production
- Andy Williams drums, percussion, backing vocals, samples, production
- Dan Austin co-producer, engineer, mixer
- Craig Silvey mixing
- Tony Allen drums on Carousels
- Martin Rebelski piano, modular synths
- Maria Lax cover photography
More from Doves
Lost Souls (2000), The Last Broadcast (2002), Some Cities (2005), Kingdom of Rust (2009)
Sources
- The Universal Want, Wikipedia
- Doves: The Universal Want, Pitchfork (2020-09-14)
- Constellations for the Lonely, Wikipedia
- Black Rivers, Wikipedia