Some Cities [CD + DVD]

First single "Black and White Town" is in good company here: Doves' distinctive jangling and fractured chords also feature in "One Of These Days" and, most impressively, the hope-tinged northern dirge that is "Shadows Of Salford". But the most interesting cut here is "The Storm", which uses an old Ryuichi Sakamoto string sample to great effect, pitching Doves into compelling new territory that could well be explored in the future.

Elsewhere Doves' trademark soaring, epic sound is retained intact from Lost Souls and The Last Broadcast. Doves repeat their peerless use of a thumping kick to propel songs such as "Black and White Town" and "Sky Starts Falling" to their blistered crescendos, all the while keeping a uniquely dynamic sound that is exclusively Doves.--Jonti Davies