The Last Broadcast

When Doves issued Lost Souls in fall 2000, Britpop was immersed in its melodic gloom-and-doom era, ushered in by the success of Radiohead. The likes of Coldplay, Travis, Elbow, and Starsailor followed in their wake, as did Doves. What separated Doves from the rest was a glint of passion, evident on their 2000 debut, Lost Souls. Two years later, the atmospheric dreamscapes of Lost Souls were torn asunder for the musical daybreak of The Last Broadcast. As it turns out, the psychedelic vibrancy of "Catch the Sun," the brightest track on the album, pointed toward this brave second record. Gone are the hazy space rock trips and the cheerless attitudes; Doves are on the sunny side of the street for The Last Broadcast. The seven-minute sonic boom of "There Goes the Fear" finds Jimi Goodwin sharing vocals with Jez and Andy Williams for a glorious chorus. Each of them switches up vocal duties throughout, lending a joyous feel to the album itself. From the bold front of "Words" to the fiery momentum of "Pounding," The Last Broadcast shows a refreshing rawness that was absent before. The High Llamas' Sean O'Hagan delivers sweeping orchestral arrangements for the sublime "Friday's Dust," while the electronic dewdrops of "The Sulphur Man" push Doves' divine ambience further to the front.Doves were caught up in making grand compositions on Lost Souls, which worked fabulously, but it was too much. They've stripped down to the basics, letting the optimism of The Last Broadcast take center stage. It's a brilliant moment. ~ MacKenzie Wilson

宇宙には住所がない。地球から見える星くずはキラメキながら星座を形成するが、そんな名称は、地球に住む僕らが勝手に決めつけているだけ。違う惑星から見れば、そんな星座や星の海はどんなふうに見えるのだろう──。マンチェスターが生んだ期待のニューカマー、ダヴス。2000年のデビュー作『Lost Souls』が、本国イギリスでさまざまな賞を獲得。待ち望まれていたセカンド・アルバムが、流れ星か、はたまたUFOのごとく夜空を切り裂いて届けられた。プリファブ・スプラウトのロマンティシズムや、マーキュリー・レヴのサイケデリア、加えてラーズやオアシスに通じる黄金のメロディー・ライン、そのすべてが備わったダヴスの宇宙空間。目を閉じればどこまでも続く銀河が広がり、僕たちがいまだ見たことのない星の輝き、惑星のダンスを感じることができる。ブリット・ロックの明るい未来が見えた。
bounce (C)米田貴弘