Absent Friends is the eighth studio album by Northern Irish chamber pop band the Divine Comedy, released in 2004 by Parlophone in the UK and Nettwerk in the U.S. Two singles were released from the album in the UK: "Come Home Billy Bird", which features former Kenickie vocalist Lauren Laverne on vocals, and the album's title track.
Neil Hannon was the only member of the Divine Comedy by this point, as the band had split up shortly after the release of 2001's Regeneration. Hannon had decided to continue using the Divine Comedy name for this album and was aided by long-time collaborator Joby Talbot, who arranged and conducted the orchestra.
Reviewing the album for Pitchfork, Joe Tangari said:
Even if you're resistant to Hannon's grandiosity, it's hard to deny the lush sweep of the album's opening title track, a song that confirms his place as the closest thing to an inheritor of Scott Walker's mantle as we're likely to get. The orchestration is expert and economical, and Nigel Godrich, bumped from the producer's chair to the mixing board this time around, perfectly stacks the song's elements to make them sound absolutely huge. Hannon's tenor is commanding, and he spins an incredible melody as he runs through a series of tributes to 20th century icons whose lives ended prematurely, from French actress Jean Seberg to Laika, the first dog in space.[10]
Track listingedit
All songs written by Neil Hannon.
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Absent Friends"
3:40
2.
"Sticks and Stones"
4:48
3.
"Leaving Today"
4:18
4.
"Come Home Billy Bird"
4:07
5.
"My Imaginary Friend"
2:43
6.
"The Wreck of the Beautiful"
4:58
7.
"Our Mutual Friend"
5:58
8.
"The Happy Goth"
3:36
9.
"Freedom Road"
3:55
10.
"Laika's Theme" (instrumental)
3:07
11.
"Charmed Life"
4:41
Total length:
45:56
Personneledit
Millennia Ensemble Musiciansedit
Orchestra arranged and conducted by Joby Talbot.
Everton Nelson, Charles Mutter, Warren Zielinski, Cath Haggo, Natalia Bonner, Giles Broadbent, Rick Koster, Matthew Scrivener, Alison Dods, Darragh Morgan, Richard George, Lucy Wilkins, Steve Hussey, Timothy Myall, Helena Wood, John Smart, Maya Bickel, Jenny Sacha - Violin
Vince Greene, Adrian Smith, Louise Hogan, Reiad Chibah, Dan Cornford - Viola
Chris Worsey, Ian Burdge, Nick Holland, Christopher Fish - Cello
Lucy Shaw, Bev Jones - Double Bass
Daniel Newell, Tom Rees-Roberts - Trumpet
James 'Spaddy' Adams, Mike Kearsey - Trombone
Matt Gunner, Simon Morgan - French Horn
Nick Cartledge - Flute
Chris Richards - Clarinet
Dominic Kelly - Oboe
Jo Cackett, Gareth Newman - Bassoon
Jay Craig - Saxophone
Lucy Wakeford - Harp
Additional Musiciansedit
Miggy Barradas – drums on tracks 2, 4, 8 & 11
Rob Farrer – percussion on tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 & 8
^"The Divine Comedy: Absent Friends". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
April 12, 2024
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Absent Friends album news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Absent Friends is the eighth studio album by Northern Irish chamber pop band the Divine Comedy released in 2004 by Parlophone in the UK and Nettwerk in the U S Two singles were released from the album in the UK Come Home Billy Bird which features former Kenickie vocalist Lauren Laverne on vocals and the album s title track Absent FriendsStudio album by The Divine ComedyReleased29 March 2004 UK amp Europe 4 May 2004 US Recorded2001 03StudioRAK St John s Wood London and Konk LondonGenreChamber pop alternative rockLength45 56LabelParlophone UK amp Europe Nettwerk US ProducerNeil HannonThe Divine Comedy chronologyRegeneration 2001 Absent Friends 2004 Victory for the Comic Muse 2006 Singles from Absent Friends Come Home Billy Bird Released 22 March 2004 Absent Friends Released 14 June 2004Music videoThe Divine Comedy Absent Friends on YouTubeProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 1 BBCfavourable 2 Blender 3 The Guardian 4 Mojo 5 musicOMHfavourable 6 Pitchfork Media 7 8 10 7 PopMattersfavourable 8 Q 9 Neil Hannon was the only member of the Divine Comedy by this point as the band had split up shortly after the release of 2001 s Regeneration Hannon had decided to continue using the Divine Comedy name for this album and was aided by long time collaborator Joby Talbot who arranged and conducted the orchestra The album was recorded at RAK Studios and Konk Studios in London by Guy Massey with help from Raj Das and Chris Bolster It was mixed at Mayfair Studios by Nigel Godrich who was assisted by Dan Grech Marguerat Contents 1 Reception 2 Track listing 3 Personnel 3 1 Millennia Ensemble Musicians 3 2 Additional Musicians 3 3 Technical Personnel 4 Guest performers 5 ReferencesReception editReviewing the album for Pitchfork Joe Tangari said Even if you re resistant to Hannon s grandiosity it s hard to deny the lush sweep of the album s opening title track a song that confirms his place as the closest thing to an inheritor of Scott Walker s mantle as we re likely to get The orchestration is expert and economical and Nigel Godrich bumped from the producer s chair to the mixing board this time around perfectly stacks the song s elements to make them sound absolutely huge Hannon s tenor is commanding and he spins an incredible melody as he runs through a series of tributes to 20th century icons whose lives ended prematurely from French actress Jean Seberg to Laika the first dog in space 10 Track listing editAll songs written by Neil Hannon No TitleLength1 Absent Friends 3 402 Sticks and Stones 4 483 Leaving Today 4 184 Come Home Billy Bird 4 075 My Imaginary Friend 2 436 The Wreck of the Beautiful 4 587 Our Mutual Friend 5 588 The Happy Goth 3 369 Freedom Road 3 5510 Laika s Theme instrumental 3 0711 Charmed Life 4 41Total length 45 56Personnel editMillennia Ensemble Musicians edit Orchestra arranged and conducted by Joby Talbot Everton Nelson Charles Mutter Warren Zielinski Cath Haggo Natalia Bonner Giles Broadbent Rick Koster Matthew Scrivener Alison Dods Darragh Morgan Richard George Lucy Wilkins Steve Hussey Timothy Myall Helena Wood John Smart Maya Bickel Jenny Sacha Violin Vince Greene Adrian Smith Louise Hogan Reiad Chibah Dan Cornford Viola Chris Worsey Ian Burdge Nick Holland Christopher Fish Cello Lucy Shaw Bev Jones Double Bass Daniel Newell Tom Rees Roberts Trumpet James Spaddy Adams Mike Kearsey Trombone Matt Gunner Simon Morgan French Horn Nick Cartledge Flute Chris Richards Clarinet Dominic Kelly Oboe Jo Cackett Gareth Newman Bassoon Jay Craig Saxophone Lucy Wakeford Harp Additional Musicians edit Miggy Barradas drums on tracks 2 4 8 amp 11 Rob Farrer percussion on tracks 1 3 4 6 7 amp 8 Simon Little double bass on track 8 Crispin Robinson congas on tracks 4 amp 8 Joby Talbot plucked piano on track 9 Matt Gunner horn solo on track 9 Everton Nelson violin solo on track 10 Nick Cartledge flute solo on track 8Technical Personnel edit Neil Hannon performer producer arranger Guy Massey recording Nigel Godrich mixing Dan Marguerat additional mixingGuest performers editLauren Laverne vocals on Come Home Billy Bird 2 Yann Tiersen accordion on Sticks amp Stones References edit DiGravina Tim The Divine Comedy Absent Friends gt Review at AllMusic Retrieved 4 November 2011 a b Charles Chris 16 February 2004 Review Absent Friends BBC Retrieved 4 November 2011 Lynskey Dorian The Divine Comedy Absent Friends Blender Archived from the original on 20 August 2004 Retrieved 7 December 2021 Sullivan Caroline 26 March 2004 Review Absent Friends The Guardian Retrieved 4 November 2011 Review Absent Friends Mojo 109 April 2004 Wright Helen Review Absent Friends musicOMH Archived from the original on 29 June 2011 Retrieved 4 November 2011 Tangari Joe 11 July 2004 Review Absent Friends Pitchfork Media Archived from the original on 12 July 2012 Retrieved 4 November 2011 Medsker David 24 May 2004 Review Absent Friends PopMatters Retrieved 4 November 2011 Review Absent Friends Q 102 May 2004 The Divine Comedy Absent Friends Pitchfork com Retrieved 7 September 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Absent Friends album amp oldid 1174293095, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
