More details on the long-awaited return of England's Doves

Doves' first new music in 11 years arrived recently with new track “Carousels” and now their fifth studio album, The Universal Want, has been set for release on Sept. 11 through Imperial in the US. The official first single is “Prisoners”.

“Prisoners” was produced by Doves with Dan Austin and recorded at the band’s own Frank Bough Sound III studios in North West England. 

Andy Williams says of the Manchester trio's latest single: “It’s about continually chasing something and not being satisfied when you eventually get it. You’ve got ‘that thing’ and you find you’re not any happier. Be careful what you wish for.”

Announcing their return in late 2018, Jimi Goodwin, Andy and Jez Williams did festival and outdoor headline shows last year.

“It’s definitely got the stamp of ‘the time’ all over it,” says Jez, when asked about the overall vibe. “Everything on the album is an echo. It’s an echo of what we were going through at the time. Getting back together, the Royal Albert Hall and everything else.”

The Universal Want album artwork is by London-based, Finnish photographer, Maria Lax. Her 2020 photobook, Some Kind Of Heavenly Fire, set evocative images alongside memorabilia relating to a moment in time when hardship, industrialisation and UFO sightings disturbed the peace of her isolated hometown in Northern Finland. Struck by the power in her work, Goodwin acquired the book, then gifted his band mates a copy each.

Turning the page onto the next chapter of a three-decade career, The Universal Want follows the Mercury-nominated albums, Lost Souls (2000) and The Last Broadcast (2002), their second, successive UK Number One album, Some Cities (2005) and Kingdom Of Rust (2009).

Track listing:

Carousels

I Will Not Hide
Broken Eyes
For Tomorrow
Cathedrals Of The Mind
Prisoners
Cycle Of Hurt
Mother Silver Lake
Universal Want
Forest House