The Universal Want was a satisfying return for the Manchester trio in 2020 after a decade-long hiatus, better than most of their 90s peers’ reunion projects. This time, with Jimi Goodwin still unable to return to his frontman role full time, the Williams brothers are more prominent on vocals. Sensible given an ongoing tour, although not always successful here. Goodwin’s querulous, oddly comforting croon may not be at its strongest, but he brings an emotional heft to songs such as Orlando that’s missed whenever he’s not behind the mic.

Renegade and Saint Teresa are the most typically Doves moments on the album, impeccably constructed but a bit gloomy. Although their signature song Black and White Town is a clarion call for choosing colour over monochrome, there’s little evidence of similar choices here. From its title onwards, Constellations for the Lonely is about trying to find poetry in misery – and sometimes just finding more misery. When Cold Dreaming borrows from Doves classic Jetstream, it reminds you that there’s just not enough of the latter’s propulsive energy throughout this album, even if their prog-tinged productions are as impressively intricate as ever.