Album Review: The Doves – Constellation For The Lonely
2 min read
Doves have always walked a fine line between indie rock and something much bigger—cinematic, sweeping, and deeply introspective. Constellations for the Lonely is easily their most emotionally raw and ambitious record yet, shaped by years of personal and professional upheaval. It’s the kind of album that doesn’t just reflect where the band is now—it feels like a culmination of everything they’ve been through.
Getting here wasn’t easy. After The Universal Want (2020), frontman Jimi Goodwin struggled with mental health and substance issues, leading to a canceled tour and an uncertain future for the band. Guitarist Jez Williams hinted early on that this would be a “dark” record, and you can hear that weight in every corner of these songs. The album took four years to make, with the band recording separately at their Cheshire studio, a process that shaped its fragmented but deeply introspective sound.
Doves have never fit neatly into the indie rock box. They’ve always had progressive tendencies—big, atmospheric soundscapes, layered instrumentation, and a knack for balancing beauty with melancholy. Constellations for the Lonely pushes those elements further than ever. Lead single Renegade sets the tone with its dystopian, almost apocalyptic energy, blending haunting electronics with soaring guitars. Saint Teresa and Cold Dreaming feel like classic Doves in their ability to make sadness sound strangely beautiful, while Andy Williams stepping up for lead vocals on a few tracks adds a fresh, if slightly disjointed, dynamic.
The album’s progressive rock influences are hard to miss. Strange Weather could pass for a lost Pink Floyd track, all ethereal harmonies and dramatic chord shifts, while In the Butterfly House carries that creeping, Radiohead-like tension. Then there’s Stupid Schemes, where an electrified wah-wah guitar solo practically drags the song into another dimension. It’s clear the band isn’t just revisiting old ground—they’re expanding their sound in bold, sometimes unexpected, ways.
That said, Constellations for the Lonely isn’t the easiest listen. Some tracks feel weighed down by their ambition, missing the propulsive energy of earlier albums like The Last Broadcast. But what it lacks in immediacy, it makes up for in depth. This is an album that rewards patience—each listen peels back another layer, revealing new textures and emotions you might’ve missed the first time.
In the end, Constellations for the Lonely is a powerful, if somber, statement from a band that’s been through the wringer and come out the other side. It may not be their most accessible work, but it’s certainly one of their most compelling—a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the enduring power of their music.
