Description

Absent Friendsnbspwas first released innbsp2004. Describing the album,nbspNeil saidnbspThe songs use stories and characters as a framework to pin my ideas on. Its mostly about the eternal battle between the pull of personal freedom and the comfort of domesticityrdquo.nbspThe album was recorded by Guy Massey, mixed by Nigel Godrich and features guest appearances by 6 Music DJ Lauren Laverne and French multiinstrumentalist Yann Tiersen.nbspldquoThe whole album is rich, beautiful and can make you smile and cry on the turn of a chorusrdquonbspstated Phill Jupitus in the Radio Times, while the Guardian described it as annbspldquoornate gemrdquonbspand Word magazine said,nbspldquoitrsquos Neil Hannonrsquos best yetrdquo. Stand out tracks from the album include singlesnbspCome Home Billy BirdnbspandnbspAbsent Friends,nbspas well as fan favouritesnbspOur Mutual FriendnbspandnbspCharmed Life.The CD release consists of 2 discs the original remastered album, with a second CD of Bsides, demos and alternate versions lovingly curated by Neil Hannon, much of which has never been heard before. The CD comes with a booklet of photos, credits and extensive liner notes written by Neil covering the context and inspiration behind the album and its songs.To mark the release, The Divine Comedy play five nights at the Barbican in London in early September and then later the same month, five nights at the Cite de la Musique in Paris. Performing as an elevenpiece ensemble, the bandnbspwill play two albums from their catalogue in full each night. Absent Friends and Victory For The Comic Muse will be performed on the 5th Septembernbspin London and the 28th Sept in Paris. The Divine Comedy CD is available for home delivery from Vinyl Records London, only £10