Live: The Divine Comedy at HMV Grafton Street

After their excellent instore at Road Records over the weekend, the Divine Comedy are set to perform at another of Dublin's top music outlets, HMV on Grafton Street on Thursday, June 3rd. They'll take to the stage at 5.30, and it's sure to be a packed show.

They're currently promoting new album Bang Goes the Knighthood, which came out in the UK today. Read my review of the album here.

Watch The Divine Comedy 'At the Indie Disco' live:

Watch: Neil Hannon - My Lovely Horse

Neil Hannon was at Road Records in Dublin yesterday to promote the Divine Comedy's excelllent new album Bang Goes the Knighhood. Not only did he play songs from that record, but also got in the Eurovision mood by playing an impromptu 'My Lovely Horse' (that's the Eurovision entry Ireland enters in Father Ted for any of my non-Irish visitors, it fared about as well in Eurosong 96 than Ireland did last night).

Thanks to Brogen Hayes for the heads-up about this excellent video. (Also have a look out for Sean Earley somewhere in the video)

Watch Neil Hannon - 'My Lovely Horse':

Album Review: The Divine Comedy - Bang Goes The Knighthood

The Divine Comedy - Bang Goes the Knighthood

Neil Hannon has always been a fantastic lyricist. It's probably the best thing about the Divine Comedy. (That said the music is awesome too). Less than a minute into Bang Goes the Knighthood, you know you're in for a treat. Who can't relate to the line "Talk about how the film ain't half as good as the book"? Fabulous. This is the Divine Comedy's tenth album, and is probably their best since Fin de Siecle. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a hater of their recent material (Absent Friends still gets regular plays), it's just that this is a standout record in a career full of brilliance.

Opener 'Down in the Street Below' is a gorgeous song about looking at the world through the eyes of others, and features a masterful breakdown and wonderful harmonies. But don't worry, Hannon is still clever and witty (much like he was on his last release, 2009's Duckworth Lewis Method). 'The Complete Banker' is a typical Hannon-esque look at the banking crisis and those who caused it. The first time I listened to it, I had to check the inlay booklet to see if there was a diagram telling you to pull your mouth apart and say "complete banker". (Some of the more juvenile among you will know what I'm talking about "My daddy's a banker".)

As always, there are songs here to transport you to another world. 'Neapolitan Girl' is set in Italy in 1944 after the occupation, and is based on Norman Lewis' war memoir Naples '44. The lyrics are totally at odds with the jangly melody. Inspired genius.

I have only mentioned three songs so far and I've already run out of superlatives. That's how this album makes me feel. Definitely a career highpoint.

'Bang Goes the Knighthood' is about, well I won't ruin it on you, but it reminded me of the only good section in Joseph O'Connor's Star of the Sea. The bridge is utterly splendid though. Lead single 'At the Indie Disco' was a perfect choice to show off the album's strengths. There is sure to be many more tunes selected, but none as fun as this namedropper. This is definitely going to be one of my songs of the summer.

Not all the songs are belters. The title track is a slower, more mellow tune. 'Have You Ever Been In Love?' is an old-school romantic song, along the lines of Bacharach and David. Which is exactly what Neil Hannon was going for. Mission accomplished. Similarly, 'The Lost Art of Conversation' has a wonderful old-time feel to it. Apart from talking about Frank Lampard in the first chorus, of course. 'When A Man Cries' is the saddest tune on the album by far, but Hannon is as easily able to handle this kind of song as he is the more jaunty numbers. The fluttery Alice in Wonderland/Peter Pan feel is fantastic too.

'Assume the Perpendicular' is another one of those songs to showcase Hannon's verbal dexterity. Who else could get away with lines like "Crunch of the gravel driveway / Dash by the grand facade / Just for today we're lords and ladies / Oh what a gay charade / Livinia loves the lintels / Anna the architraves / Ben's impressed by the buttresses / Thrust up the chapel knave". The title is brilliant too.

'Can You Stand Upon One Leg' reminds me of 'Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head', and makes me want to dance just as much. 'Island Life' was originally written for the musical version of Swallows and Amazons and has that kind of feel to it. Neil, you're my Dorothy. The album ends brilliantly with 'I Like' a love song to everyone. You know what I like? This album. A lot, a lorra lorra lot. Simply glorious. Easily one of the Divine Comedy's finest releases.

Watch: The Divine Comedy - At the Indie Disco

The Divine Comedy's tenth album (yes, ten, impressive eh?) Bang Goes the Knighthood will be released on May 31st, and is sure to be every bit as good as their past attempts, especially if lead single 'At the Indie Disco' is anything to go by. Watch the video for it below.

Tracklist:
1. "Down In The Street Below"
2. "The Complete Banker"
3. "Neapolitan Girl"
4. "Bang Goes The Knighthood"
5. "At The Indie Disco"
6. "Have You Ever Been in Love"
7. "Assume the Perpendicular"
8. "The Lost Art of Conversation"
9. "Island Life"
10. "When a Man Cries"
11. "Can You Stand Upon One Leg"
12. "I Like"


Watch The Divine Comedy 'At the Indie Disco':

Watch: Duckworth Lewis Method - Blackcab Sessions

I cannot wait for the Duckworth Lewis Method album. It's Neil Hannon's new pet project, and is cricket influenced. Very heavily cricket influenced. Anyone who follows me on twitter will see that I've mentioned the brilliant Twenty20 World Cup a hell of a lot, so I'm loving these songs and this band.



Watch: http://vimeo.com/5078608?pg=embed&sec=