Gig review: Doves

Published on Monday 16 March 2009 18:59

DOVES ABC, GLASGOW

IT IS refreshing to note that mainstream British rock seems to be undergoing a quiet sea change back towards some form of socialist inspiration.

Where certain other bands (Coldplay, mainly) have become untouchable paragons of Hollywood living and self-reverence up on their stadium stage, Elbow's Guy Garvey and now Doves' Jimi Goodwin are everyman heroes; separated from their own audience only by a God-given voice and a hard worked-at songwriting ability.

Returning next month with Kingdom of Rust, their fourth album and first in four years, the Cheshire trio (and touring keyboard player Martin Rebelski) were greeted with honest affection by the sell-out crowd, with singer and bassist Goodwin offering up a simple, 'It's been a long time Glasgow', by way of greeting, then growling every ounce of drama out of the words.

This could be the first step on the road to the same Mercury and Brit award success that Elbow have recently enjoyed. Why not? Doves have the talent, the impeccable back catalogue and the weight of popular support behind them.

Every song was an epic, with this most plain-looking of bands overpowered by footage of arctic tundra, rolling clouds and pneumatic dancers. Their every riff was strident and elemental, from time-honoured epics like Words, Here It Comes and There Goes The Fear to new tracks Jetstream and Kingdom of Rust.

Recent reports claimed a Vangelis influence to their latest material, which made an odd kind of sense, and the hint of Sergio Leone in the latter track confirmed their ambition far outstrips that of their peers.