About this item

Recorded at Abbey Road last autumn, ‘Rainy Sunday Afternoon’ is The Divine Comedy's thirteenth album and their first studio album since 2019's UK top 5 ‘Office Politics’. The band's last release was 2022's Best Of compilation ‘Charmed Life’ which also reached 5 in the UK album charts. The band’s Neil Hannon most recently wrote the original songs for the Warner Bros blockbuster ‘Wonka.’

Neil says: “My musical output is, for better or worse, a representation of my personality. A good chunk of that personality revels in the rumbumptious; celebrates the silly. And I made ample use of that for the Wonka songs. I have though, like everyone, a darker, more melancholy side. And for one reason or another it has been much in evidence of late. I needed to use this album as an outlet for those feelings. To work through some stuff. Mortality; memories; relationships; political and social upheaval. Everyone should get to make an orchestral pop album once in a while. It should be available on the NHS.“

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Neil Hannon embraces his maudlin leanings on his thirteenth album as The Divine Comedy, and while it's definitely not got as much of the outright silliness he's been known for, there is still a good sense of humour in these cinematic vignettes. Nicely written, emotionally rich orchestral swooners.

TRACK LISTING

1. Achilles
2. The Last Time I Saw The Old Man
3. The Man Who Turned Into A Chair
4. I Want You
5. Rainy Sunday Afternoon
6. All The Pretty Lights
7. Down The Rabbit Hole
8. Mar-a-Lago By The Sea
9. The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter
10. Can’t Let Go
11. Invisible Thread