Doves

Doves formed in Manchester in 1998, Jimi Goodwin, Jez Williams, and Andy Williams having previously been the dance act Sub Sub. The transition from electronic music to guitar rock was complete and convincing — 'Lost Souls' (2000) was one of the most acclaimed British debuts of the year, a record of extraordinary atmosphere and emotional depth.

'The Last Broadcast' (2002) reached number one — 'There Goes the Fear' became one of the great British singles of the decade, a seven-minute epic that built from near-silence to overwhelming intensity. 'Some Cities' (2005) was another number one. Doves were one of the most consistently excellent British bands of the 2000s, though they never quite achieved the commercial profile their quality deserved.

After 'Kingdom of Rust' (2009), the band went on an extended hiatus. The return in 2020 with 'The Universal Want' was one of the most welcome comebacks in British music — the album showed a band who had lost nothing of their atmospheric intensity or melodic invention. Goodwin's voice in particular had only deepened with age.