Literate. Orchestral. Chamber pop with a witty, cinematic twist.

After more than three decades of making music, The Divine Comedy continues to walk the line between highbrow and playful — mixing the cerebral with the cheeky to create songs full of wit, charm and originality.

Since Neil Hannon’s last studio album as The Divine Comedy (2019’s Office Politics) there’s been a sensational Best Of compilation, Charmed Life, which went Top 5, and the Wonka soundtrack, for which Hannon wrote all the original songs.

Now this September sees the release of the 13th (and possibly best) Divine Comedy album, Rainy Sunday Afternoon. The album exquisitely covers his usual range of emotions: sad, funny, angry and everything in between.

“My musical output is, for better or worse, a representation of my personality,” Neil Hannon admits. “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,” Neil explains. “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.”

Don’t miss your dose of Divine Comedy in Gateshead this October.

www.thedivinecomedy.com