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Doves: Constellations for the Lonely review – prog poetry for gloomy days


Impeccable production and propulsive moments led by Jimi Goodwin brighten the Manchester trio’s somewhat lethargic latest

Goodwin’s querulous, oddly comforting croon may not be at its strongest, but he brings an emotional heft to songs such as Orlando that’s missed whenever he’s not behind the mic. Although their signature song Black and White Town is a clarion call for choosing colour over monochrome, there’s little evidence of similar choices here. When Cold Dreaming borrows from Doves classic Jetstream, it reminds you that there’s just not enough of the latter’s propulsive energy throughout this album, even if their prog-tinged productions are as impressively intricate as ever.

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