Rocktrospectiva: The Strength And Cathartic "The Universal Want" Turns 5

Released on 11 September 2020 "The Universal Want" was the fifth studio album by British indie rock band Doves, it was the band's first album following a hiatus that began in 2010; the band members pursued solo projects in the interim.

Three digital singles preceded the album's release: "Carousels" in June, "Prisoners" in July, and "Cathedrals of the Mind" in August, earned critical acclaim and was commercially successful, entering the UK Albums Chart at #1, becoming Doves' third album to achieve the top position.

It is the band's only album in which singer and bassist Jimi Goodwin sings lead vocals on every track, although guitarist Jez Williams sings co-lead vocals on "Mother Silverlake".

Doves announced they would be taking an indefinite hiatus. Jimi Goodwin released his debut solo album, Odludek, in March 2014, while Jez and Andy Williams regrouped as Black Rivers and released a self-titled album in February 2015. In December 2018, Goodwin and the Williams brothers announced they would be reuniting as Doves and performing at the Royal Albert Hall in support for the Teenage Cancer Trust in March 2019.

Following the warm reception to the performance and additional live gigs, rumours began to circulate regarding new material being written and recorded. On 18 June 2020, the band released "Carousels", their first new song in ten years. A month later on 9 July, the band announced the details of their new album and released the album's first proper single, "Prisoners".

Doves partly recorded the album at Frank Bough Sound III (a studio converted from a barn in Cheshire where they had recorded Kingdom of Rust), Big Red Studios in Macclesfield, EVE Studios in Stockport and Vada Studios in Alcester in England. The band co-produced the album with frequent collaborator Dan Austin, and it was mixed by Craig Silvey at London's Toast Studios and Dan Austin at SoundHorn Studios in southwest England.

Andy Williams said there was a renewed focus and clarity in the studio after not recording together for as long as the band did; he added,  there was also an appreciation of what all three of us brought to the band originally. We enjoy each other's company. We missed writing together and we also gave each other more room. If someone wasn't feeling great one day we'd reconvene at a later date whereas during Kingdom of Rust we were working solidly day-to-day; clocking in. It was quite militant. We've always had a strong work ethic but this time it was different because of the way we gave each other space if they weren't feeling it. It was a lot easier as a process."

The album's artwork was chosen by the band from London-based, Finnish photographer Maria Lax. Goodwin was moved by the images in Lax's 2020 photobook, Some Kind of Heavenly Fire, and he gifted his bandmates a copy each. This marks the first album release by the band to not feature artwork from longtime collaborator Rick Myers.

The Universal Want was met with critical praise, and regarded as a cathartic comeback, they were taking strength from sadness, hope from despair, and wisdom from experience, an autobiographical subtext and musically it encapsulates perfectly three decades of experience and ideas. Definitely Doves had produced a masterpiece of a record, which arguably could be considered their finest album to date.

 

The Universal Want Track List: 

 

1. Carousels

2. I Will Not Hide

3. Broken Eyes

4. For Tomorrow

5. Cathedrals Of The Mind

6. Prisoners

7. Cycle Of Hurt

8. Mother Silverlake

9. Universal Want

10. Forest House