| Absent Friends | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | The Divine Comedy |
| Cover: | Thedivinecomedyabsentfriends.JPG |
| Released: | 29 March 2004 (UK & Europe) 4 May 2004 (US) |
| Recorded: | 2001 - 03 |
| Studio: | RAK, St John's Wood, London and Konk, London |
| Genre: | Chamber pop, alternative rock |
| Length: | 45:56 |
| Label: | Parlophone (UK & Europe) Nettwerk (US) |
| Producer: | Neil Hannon |
| Prev Title: | Regeneration |
| Prev Year: | 2001 |
| Next Title: | Victory for the Comic Muse |
| Next Year: | 2006 |
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.
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.
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.[1]
All songs written by Neil Hannon.
Orchestra arranged and conducted by Joby Talbot.