The Manchester trio return with a self-assured classic album.

The Last Broadcast follows There Goes the Fear, a single released and deleted on the same day, which stormed into the charts at number three. Like fellow Mancs Elbow, it has taken Doves ten years to get there.

Andy and Jez Williams and Jimi Goodwin began making music as Sub Sub and had some minor chart success with Ain't no Love (Ain't no Use) during the 'Madchester' scene of the early nineties. However, frustrated and pigeon-holed, they decided a on change of direction. They returned as Doves with the album Lost Souls and were promptly nominated for a Mercury.

Have they felt under pressure to follow it up? "Nothing could match the pressure we put on ourselves" says Jez, "We're quite happy to write five songs and throw four away - that's how hard we can be on ourselves".

This perfectionist attitude is obvious listening to multi-layered sound of The Last Broadcast. While not actually sounding like it, the album is very like the Stone Roses debut. It sounds very Manchester. It's beat-driven but melodic. It's confident and anthemic. It'll have broad appeal to indy kids and clubbers alike. And like a little black dress, it won't go out of fashion. MW 31 May 02

The Last Broadcast is out now on Heavenly Recordings

Dot Music:
...an utter triumph...
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NME:
...the most uplifting miserable album you'll hear all year...
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Play Louder
...steeped in baggy nostaligia...
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