‘Constellations For The Lonely’ Finds Doves At Their Most Fragmented & Triumphant (ALBUM REVIEW)

For a band whose music often feels like an emotional storm passing through a city at night, Constellations For The Lonely finds Doves at their most fragmented and, at times, their most triumphant. The Manchester trio has always excelled at painting grand, melancholic landscapes, and their sixth album continues that tradition, albeit under unusual circumstances. With frontman Jimi Goodwin stepping back from touring due to personal struggles, the Williams brothers—Andy and Jez—have taken on greater vocal responsibilities. This shift, while perhaps necessary, does alter the core of the band’s sound. Goodwin’s voice, a warm, slightly battered instrument that carries grit and grandeur, has long been Doves’ emotional anchor. Without him leading most tracks, Constellations For The Lonely feels somewhat adrift in its first half, though it regains momentum as the album progresses.  

The opening track, “Renegade,” wastes no time setting the tone. A driving, anthemic number, it boasts crashing drums, shimmering guitar lines, and Goodwin’s familiar brooding delivery. The lyrics, “If you walk out the door, then you’re walking out forever,” fit comfortably within Dove’s signature world of poetic gloom. It’s an exhilarating start, proving that they still know how to conjure magic when the band is locked in. Then comes “Cold Dreaming”, with Jez & Andy Williams stepping up to the mic. While the song’s expansive, atmospheric instrumentation is classic Doves, Jez’s thinner, reedy vocal presence struggles to fill the space that Goodwin usually occupies with ease. The line “Here comes summer” rings hollow, given the song’s otherwise somber mood. It’s a rare misstep, though not a fatal one. Jez fares better on “Strange Weather”, a slow-burning track that recalls the moodiness of The Last Broadcast era, blending Pink Floyd-esque textures with a haunting sense of isolation. Meanwhile, “Last Year’s Man” leans into the band’s post-rock tendencies, its layered production and hypnotic rhythms making for a compelling, if slightly distant, listen.  

Thankfully, the album finds its footing in its second half. “Stupid Schemes” reintroduces Goodwin’s vocals and immediately feels like a return to form—melodic, dynamic, and laced with a sharp-edged tension. The wah-wah guitar flourishes, and the driving rhythm section recalls the band’s best rock moments, proving they can still summon that grand, cinematic energy. Then there’s “Saint Teresa”, one of the album’s most lyrically intriguing songs. A mandolin-led folk ballad that juxtaposes religious imagery with a sense of displacement, it’s a beautiful, understated moment that lingers long after it ends. Lines like “Her fingers are in Avila, her jawbone is in Rome” evoke a strange, disjointed spirituality that mirrors the album’s themes of fragmentation and longing. The final stretch cements Constellations For The Lonely as a worthy, if uneven, addition to the Doves catalog. “Orlando” simmers with quiet intensity before building into a soaring climax, showcasing the band’s mastery of dynamics. Closer “Southern Bell” takes a more stripped-down approach, its acoustic arrangement and yearning vocals reminiscent of South with a dash of Radiohead melancholy. The album ends poignant with the repeated refrain, “We’ll go on forever,” a sentiment that feels as much like a promise as a plea.  

While Constellations For The Lonely doesn’t reach the seamless heights of The Last Broadcast or Lost Souls, it proves that Doves still has something vital to say. While the Williams brothers have contributed excellent songs on past albums, they work better as an amuse-bouche rather than the main course. The vocal shifts and band restructuring may cause some turbulence, but when everything clicks, as it does on the album’s most decisive moments, the result is just as stirring as anything they’ve done before. Whether this marks a transitional phase or the beginning of a new era remains to be seen, but for now, Constellations shines brightly enough to guide them forward.