'Victory for the Comic Muse' is Neil Hannon's first album since leaving Setanta for his new label Parlophone. 'To Die a Virgin' is an orchestrated number that combines a 'Psycho Killer' style beat with strange solo George Harrison sounds and the quirkiness of the Kinks. It is a definite improvement on the Divine Comedy's Brit Pop era material. 'Mother Dear' features banjos and is an ode to mothers everywhere, while 'Diva Lady', the first single, sounds like New Order. 'A Lady of a Certain Age' is more what you would expect of Hannon and recollects Scott Walker, while 'The Light of Day' is very slow to the point of being easy listening. 'Threesome' sounds sexy, but it is just a short instrumental and sounds like a silent film soundtrack. 'Party Fears Two' is a cover of the old Associates number, while 'Arthur. C. Clarke's Mysterious World' has a Mexican flavoured sound. 'The Plough' is more dramatic in tone, while 'Count Grassi's Passage' is again slow and like a soundtrack. It ends with 'Snowball in Negative' which sounds like a dreamy fairy tale.
Track Listing:-
1 To Die A Virgin2 Mother Dear
3 Diva Lady
4 A Lady Of A Certain Age
5 The Light Of Day
6 Threesome
7 Party Fears Two
8 Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World
9 The Plough
10 Count Grassi's Passage Over Piedmont
11 Snowball In Negative
live reviews |
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Roundhouse, London, 2/11/2006 |
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| At the recently reopened Roundhouse in London, Ben Howarth watches the Divine Comedy play a celebratory set to a fanatical audience |
| Sheffield Uni, 12th March 2000 |
digital downloads
reviews |
|
To Die A Virgin (2006) |
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| Nostalgic and dramatic second single from the Divine Comedy's new album, 'Victory for the Comic Muse' |
| Diva Lady (2006) |
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