It’s been four long years since the Doves last released an album after marginally failing to hit the heights of some of its lesser contempories. For me, previous albums have been good rather than great, with too few excellent tracks and too many that I would classify as filler. Perhaps the band is happy to have garnered a loyal and smaller fanbase, while avoiding the pressure that usually follows mega-stardum? Who knows… While this new album has received mixed reviews I believe it’s the band’s most complete and consistant album. A few more listens and I may just decide it verges on ‘great’…

The Doves, like all good bands, has a signature sound and I’m somewhat relieved that despite the electronic interventions, that the distinction persists. The album opens strongly with ‘Jetsteam’ and a blanket of pulsating keyboards and other electronic goodies. The song is mid-paced with the vocal just managing to rise above the plethora of electronics. Decent lyrics and a strong melody complete the package, but I waited in vain for a major crescendo to lift it above the ‘good.’ ‘Kingdom Of Rust’ is the first single off the album and opens in subdued Tex-Mex style (sans brass). There’s a strong melody and an interesting chord change which adds interest, but I wonder just how well this single will be received by radio and fans… Things start to liven substantially around middle-eight point when it becomes epic and very worthy. ‘The Outsiders’ ups a gear with an incendiery opening which includes a more assertive drum rhythm, nice guitar riffs and Bullet train pace. I’m wondering whether this should have been the single and especially in view of the winding guitar riffs. John Leckie is responsible for producing the next song ‘Winter Hill’ and he’s done a stirling job. Whirling keyboards, a killer melody, a distinctly more rocky vibe and catchy chorus line forces me now into believing that this one should have been first of the cab rank for single release. ‘10.03′ is another Leckie effort and a highlight here which I played on our radio show on Sunday night to fit in with our Americana theme. The echoed vocal dominates this time as the song rumbles along in low gear with a much higher level of sonic clarity. The crescendo comes towards the end with a rush of drums and guitars before the vocal waves a slow goodbye. Great song.

I’m mid-way and so far no fillers but no major sucker punches either, although several of the songs come very close. The second half of the album goes into deep pensive mode with the cinematic ‘Birds Flew backwards’ (that could accompany a nature documentary quite comfortably), and the rolling and wistful vibe of ‘Spellbound.’ ‘Compulsion’ opens with an extended, solid bass guitar riff that eventually meets a distant vocal in what is a beats-driven song that fails to light my fire. ‘House Of Mirrors’ sports a driving military drum rhythm which echoes one of the band’s major hits, while western style blanket guitar rides alngside. By any standard it’s an epic track with the vocal almost an intrusion. Like it. ‘Lifelines’ concludes the album on a rocky high as it climbs and dives in grand style.

KINGDOM OF RUST does it for me as the band’s best album to-date, and I can only recommend.

4/5

Looking forward to seeing the band play these songs live. Here’s the band’s Spring 2009 tour schedule:

15 April - Corn Exchange, Parsons Court, Cambridge

16 April - Dome, Brighton

17 April - O2 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham

19 April - Ulster Hall, Bedford St, Belfast

20 April - Olympia Theatre, Dublin

22 April - Barrowland, Glasgow

23rApril - Picture House, Edinburgh

24 April - O2 Academy, Leeds

26 April - Manchester Academy, Manchester

27 April - O2 Academy Newcastle

28 April - O2 Sheffield Academy

30 April - Hexagon, Reading

1 May - O2 Brixton Academy London

4 May - Guildhall, Civic Centre, Southampton

5 May - Rock City, Nottingham

6 May - UEA, University of East Anglia Norwich

7 May - O2 Academy Bristol, Bristol