Constellations for the Lonely

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Constellations for the Lonely
Doves - Constellations for the Lonely.png
Studio album by
Released28 February 2025 (2025-02-28)
Recorded2020–2024
StudioFrank Bough Sound III, Cheshire
Label EMI North
Producer
Doves chronology
The Universal Want
(2020)
Constellations for the Lonely
(2025)
Singles from Constellations for the Lonely
  1. "Renegade"
    Released: 4 November 2024
  2. "Cold Dreaming"
    Released: 8 January 2025

Constellations for the Lonely is the upcoming sixth studio album by British rock band Doves. The album is set to be released by EMI North, the band's first for the label, on 28 February 2025. [1] Described by the band as a "dark" album, guitarist/singer Jez Williams said in an interview with NME , "We're living in pretty fucking horrible times, so we wanted to reflect that but give a little hope. [...] I see this as a future soul album for outsiders. We want you to feel understood." [1]

Contents

Background

Constellations for the Lonely follows over four years since the trio's comeback album The Universal Want and the cancelled proposed tour to support the album in 2020 and 2021. Singer/bassist Jimi Goodwin had been struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues, which prompted the band to cancel all remaining promotion for the album whilst Goodwin sought treatment. [1] In an interview with NME, Goodwin said that there was "a loose thread that kicked the record off," with album opener and first single "Renegade" being the first thing the band recorded together for the album. Goodwin told NME, "In our minds, it's got a Blade Runner -esque theme. It was inspired by the Roy Batty speech of how nothing lasts forever, you know, 'I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.'" [1] Jez Williams furthered, "This is quite a dark album. We started to write it after we cancelled The Universal Want tour, so some of the songs reflect that. We wanted 'Renegade' to start with this apocalyptic atmosphere. That's what felt right for us after such a difficult time. Jimi was with us, but we were trying to make sense of all the mess – and that fed into the album." [1]

The album features vocals from all three members throughout, with the Williams brothers leading second single "Cold Dreaming". Joe Taysom of Far Out stated that "Doves carry the weight equally between them, which has been their blessing. When one of them is falling, the others are there to ease the burden of responsibility, which has enabled them to survive everything thrown at them". [2]

The band announced a live tour in promotion of the album for February and March 2025, without Jimi Goodwin due to his ongoing recovery. The live band were augmented by longtime collaborator Martin Rebelski as well as Nathan Sudders and Jake Evans. [3] The current line-up performed three intimate live shows in Stoke-on-Trent, Birkenhead and Hebden Bridge, in preparation for the tour, in November 2024. [3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Record Collector awarded Constellations for the Lonely 4 out of 5 stars, commenting that "the atmosphere is more claustrophobic; the darkness heightened, with less of a buffer to the difficult feelings", whilst concluding that "Doves have endured intact, hopeful, and with a document to perseverance that is fitting for one of indie-rock's great survivors." [4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jez Williams, Jimi Goodwin, and Andy Williams.

Constellations for the Lonely track listing [1] [5]
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."Renegade"Goodwin5:12
2."Cold Dreaming"A. / J. Williams5:02
3."In the Butterfly House" 4:10
4."Strange Weather" 4:42
5."A Drop in the Ocean" 4:26
6."Last Year's Man" 4:27
7."Stupid Schemes" 4:46
8."Saint Teresa" 4:57
9."Orlando" 3:26
10."Southern Bell" 3:47
Limited edition CD bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
11."Cally" 
12."Lean into the Wind" 
13."Saint Teresa" (Drautwerk version) 

Release history

Release history and formats for Constellations for the Lonely
CountryDateLabelFormatCatalogue #Notes
Various28 February 2025 EMI North CDEMINCD2
Limited edition CD with 3 bonus tracksDoves' webstore exclusive
LPEMINV2
Marble-white-coloured LPDoves' webstore exclusive
Cassette
Orange-coloured LPEMINVY2Independent record stores exclusive
Black smoke with purple splatter-coloured LPBlood Records UK exclusive

Notes

  1. Additional production.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Trendell, Andrew (4 November 2024). "Doves return with 'Renegade' and talk new album 'Constellations For The Lonely': "It felt like a bad curse was following us"". NME . Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  2. Taysom, Joe (8 January 2025). "How Doves came back from the brink: "We were staring down the abyss"". Far Out . Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  3. 1 2 Trendell, Andrew (8 November 2024). "Doves announce first UK shows since 2019 — without frontman Jimi Goodwin". NME . Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Constellations For The Lonely - Doves". Record Collector, issue 567. 23 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  5. DeVille, Chris (4 November 2024). "Doves Announce New Album 'Constellations For The Lonely': Hear "Renegade"" . Retrieved 6 November 2024.