Doves - The Universal Want review: Atmospheric return is an anthem to better times

“Hello old friend, it’s been a while, it’s me again, we’re just prisoners of these times,” sings Jimi Goodwin on Prisoners, the first single from Doves’s new album. It might have been a while (11 years to be exact) but the Mancunian trio are back with a stunning new album.

The atmospheric opening bars to Carousels, with Bladerunner-esque spoken samples, sets the tone. It sounds familiar, an anthem to better times, a hands-in-the-air joyous track knitted together with a sample from the late, legendary Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen.

Each of the 10 tracks is laced with epic building sections, intriguing samples and layers from Andy Williams (drums/vocals) and Jez Williams (guitars/programming/vocals) alongside Goodwin’s vocals and bass.

Standout track Universal Want builds with harmonies, monster chords and squalling lead. “How long ’til we see what we really want, ’til we see what we really need,” implores Goodwin. You can envisage a post-Covid crowd bouncing, beer flying, to the “it’s never enough” refrain before it winds down with an acid house fade-out. You couldn’t ask for more.