Doves Lost Souls (Astralwerks)      A recent import from Manchester, England, the Doves deal in rich, guitar based rock that is not afraid to break out the drum sequencers every now and again.  However, more notable than the originality of the band’s approach is the astonishing consistency of the songwriting and arranging, which happens to be top notch.      Lost Souls is an album loaded with honest-to-goodness songs; there is nothing half-assed about the ethereal “Break Me Gently,” or the frail majesty of “Sea Song.”  Furthermore, “Melody Calls” bounces along like with the effortless effectiveness of a young REM.      “Here It Comes,” is a darkly grandiose movement, replete with crashing pianos and stuttering drum samples.  The centerpiece of the disc, “Catch the Sun,” bristles with sandblasted seventh chords and angular guitar noodling, not unlike deceased indie mavens, Pavement.  Roughly hewn, yet heartfelt harmonies pervade throughout.      With their scratchy acoustic guitars, plaintive wailing, and big, fat rhythm section, the Doves seem to be baiting people to compare them to Radiohead, but such an assessment would be nothing more than hasty pigeonholing.  True, certain undeniable similarities exist, but the Doves appear to aim for less exaggerated, more terrestrially bound sounds than their Oxford elders, the results being no less engaging or unique.      Oh, and kudos to Astralwerks for including three bonus tracks on the American version of Lost Souls.  The explosive, bass-driven “Darker,” not to mention the keyboard coated “Valley” settle any doubts that the Doves can be too much of a good thing.      By the time the subdued instrumental, “Zither” closes out the record like a Roger Waters short that has gone missing for decades, you’ll recognize the importance of Lost Souls to your collection. By Casey Lombardo Long Beach Union Originally printed 2.20.01 Back