Doves: Some Cities

Herald rating: * * *

Like many a band from Manchester, they aren't the happiest lads in rock. But if the trio's approach remains sombre of lyric and delivery, there's something uplifting to the best songs on this, their third album.

While tall shimmering guitar-scapes marked their first two albums, there's sightly less of that here - Black and White Town almost recalling soul-rock territory between the Jam and Style Council. But they still fancy a grand dramatic drone, whether it's the title track, or the Flaming Lips-meets-Echo and the Bunnymen of Snowden.

It peaks at the mid-point on the anthemic Walk in Fire with its Suspicious Minds guitar and slow-fused arrangement, then One of These Days, both songs which probably have their label whispering phrases like "that'll do a Coldplay". But for all their solid songcraft it's hard see the Doves flying the coop.

Label: EMI