Originally published by L.S. Media. June 3rd 2010.

The Divine Comedy (in the guise of Neil Hannon) have been quiet the last few years, (the only album Neil has been on is the magnificent Duckworth Lewis Method album from 2009) recording only one album since 2004’s smash Absent Friends. Now, finally the master of baroque pop is back with a collection of new songs from the wittily titled Bang Goes the Knighthood.

It seems that over the years Neil has made a habit of being the ultimate watcher of events and using he sees to come up with darkly comic, insider jokes and damn fine catchy lyrics. Bang Goes the Knighthood is no exception with its take on the last couple of year’s banking crisis and subsequent recession that hit world-wide.

From the opening moments of Down in the Street Below Neil and his guest stars pull no punches as observes life through his own unique eyes. The Complete Banker is a wonderfully dry take on the side of life that very few of really understand but are affected by every day, whether it is the form of pension funds or our daily wage, it pokes just enough fun at the people who were seen as causing the problem and yet is scything enough to include in the first line the words “Can anyone lend me ten billion quid?”.

There is also the beautifully bitter sweet song of When a Man Cries towards the end of the album, a song which shows off Neil’s awareness of the life within and how painful it van be to see a man finally broken by the agony and struggle of life.

Neil is ably assisted by guest vocalists Cathy Davy and Tosh Flood and the superb orchestral arrangements of Andrew Skeet and the Millennia Ensemble. All of these artists add to the strength and complexity of the album.

If you likes Neil’s previous offerings, such as National Express or The Frog Princess then you will love this album.

Ian D. Hall