The as-yet-untitled fourth album from Doves, is set for release in April next year. The follow-up to 2005's Some Cities is almost completed according to the band's main singer Jimi Goodwin, and was recorded at their home studio in Cheshire.

The first single to be taken from the album will be Kingdom of Rust, which Goodwin described to Billboard, as having "a country-ish shuffle beat. It's really expansive with a wistful melody. It's quite emotional."

Also included on the album will be Jetstream which Goodwin refers to as a "nod to our electronic past" sung by guitarist Jez Williams; The Outsiders featuring a "piledriver bass line and a Can-like backbeat"; and Winter Hill a "vaguely country rock-esque tune."

Given Goodwin's track descriptions, it was asked if the album was heading in country rock direction. The singer/bassist/guitarist responded, "Everyone talks about fucking departures, but this album is hopefully just Doves doing what they do really well, which is nicely crafted songs. We haven't made Nashville Skyline, you know what I mean?"

The supporting tour for Some Cities was completed in 2006, after which the band members took an extended break from songwriting. "In hindsight, getting off the bike like that did sort of throw us as to why it's been so long between releases, but it was necessary mentally at the time," Goodwin revealed.

Early sessions for the album featured John Leckie taking on the production duties, however the sessions weren't successful for scheduling reasons, with the output dismissed. Dana Austin, who engineered Some Cities, was then called upon to finish the album.

Doves return to the live arena in February, with longer tours and festival appearances to feature later in the year. Goodwin jokingly cast doubt over the band's ability to tour North America "in these credit-crunched times, but we hope we'll be able to get there," he assured.

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