11 years. Eleven(!) years. It’s that long ago that Doves released their latest album. If you, like me, were eagerly anticipating its follow-up, the wait is almost over. On 11 September, at last, the Manchester rock band will give us their fifth full-length The Universal Want. In an interview with NME, frontman Jimi Goodwin calls it ‘probably the most organically-made Doves record’. Further explaining that process, he said: “It was born out of chatting to each other over email. (…) We started pooling all our material and the material that we couldn’t work into shape on the last record Kingdom Of Rust.”

Following Carousels, Prisoners is the album’s second single. A soaring, yet melancolic rock song. Goodwin: “Sometimes we get trapped by our own behaviour. You can be a prisoner of your own thoughts. They can take you to some pretty dark and unexpected places if you let them. It’s a song about checking yourself. It’s not to do with lockdown or the pandemic, it’s just the day to day wellbeing.”

This whole week, Doves’ new single Prisoners will feature here prominently. It’s the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!

In the Wildcards 2020 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.

Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.