HIGH-fliers Doves came to roost at Southampton Guildhall on the latest stop of their UK tour.

The near sell-out gig opened with a bizarre five-minute video sequence - then the band waltzed on stage and assumed positions.

There is something strangely comfortable about Doves. They have the familiarity of old slippers which somebody has replaced with an identical brand new pair.

With that just-crawled-out-of-the-bar look they genuinely seem to revel in playing live.

The rich array of songs on the Mercury Music nominated album The Last Broadcast prove a triumphant follow-up to 2000's debut Lost Souls.

They kicked off with all the hits, including Caught by the River, slowed down in the middle, and the three-song, largely instrumental encore left everyone with a satisfied glow. If Doves are holding something in reserve they'll be huge.