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Live Review
by SaschaS
11-5-2002
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| Dove, a sound of greatness |
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Live: Doves
Shepherds Bush Empire, London
Friday, May 10, 2002
Doves rise above the masses caught in a river of emotions
If there was a heaven, what music they’d be tannoying, you reckon? It can’t be energetic but something with spacious and yet rousing, a bit melancholic but not too depressing, breezy but with substance, familiar and yet not too clichéd… How about Doves’ ‘The Last Broadcast’ being piped in? These Mancs have the sound that really and truly is celestial…
Doves’ show is not a demonstrative affair but there is majesty, a monumental grace within their music that is breathtaking and utterly mesmerising. When ‘Where Goes The Fear’ (Number 3 hit) transforms into a ‘tribal’ ending, one is transported in a way that a guitar group has not be able to do since the early days of Radiohead. Or the sound of a bass – spine tingling on ‘Words’ – or that remake/remodel of ‘Moonshine’ into a ‘M62 Song’. And that classic that finds us ‘Caught By The River’ of emo-demo…
Doves have that elusive, magical quality - their music flows easily between different genres with an appeal across the taste’s divide. There are moments that are definitely going to be used for calming-down effect which is ironic: Jimi Goodwin and the Williams brothers (Andy and Jez) started life out as Sub Sub up in Manchester who had a big dance hit in 1993 with ‘Ain’t No Love (Ain’t No Use)’. But that is a long-gone past as is their first, Mercury Music Prize nominated, album, ‘Lost Souls’.
Doves’ music is an aural exploration that is hard to resist because when Jimi sings, it feels like it is just for you. The man has the power to take you emotions you’ve forgotten existed. With a flutter of prog-rockness in their sound to give it an epic sheen, one can easily see that they could be the next U2 and adored by the Americans, as some are predicting. Doves deal in colossal music that is crying for stadia.
The public is entranced by Doves who inspire such passion because they have always chased the rainbow for its diversity rather than the pot of gold at the end of it. And yet, this is picturesque music that will deservedly earn them several pots. Don’t let it corrupt your sense and sensibility, boys…
SaschaS
11-5-2002
Doves’ album ‘The Last Broadcast’ is available now on Heavenly/EMI
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