Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The temptation of an early afternoon gig is normally the preserve of the festival attendee, the chance to partake in a set of music surrounded by like-minded people as they savour the freedom of the setting and all the attraction of living life in pursuit of happiness rather than the drudgery of a day concerned with the nine to five and the complicated demands of the office and its politics.

There is always the confounding nature of time when it comes to a gig set in a record store, temptation goes into overload, nestled within sight of the seemingly out of place stage stands a music lover’s dream, music upon music, row upon row, a different type of politics starts to take place in the mind, the row forming between wallet and responsibility; thankfully in these cases the arrival of the ones using the backdrop of freshly delivered vinyl and the back catalogue as a painted display is the moment when tension is eased, the afternoon becomes a time, however brief, of one of relaxed inducement and sharing fun.

For the fans of The Divine Comedy, the chance to revel in the relaxed chamber pop atmosphere created by Neil Hannon and Tosh Flood as they performed songs from the new album, Office Politics, and a couple of the cherished moments from the sometimes secret history of the band, would have been too great to miss, the Saturday afternoon neglect of household duties and time spent at the pencil sharpener of life embraced.

The sense of natural pleasure is one hard to replicate on stage with the heat of lights and the height of crowd expectation always thrust in any performers face, there are many rightful concerns to navigate for a show to ever see a smile of repose playfully appear and that is always understandable; after all, the exchange between fan and musician which can falter or be a boon to the paying customer’s memories.

For Neil Hannon and Tosh Flood, the Saturday afternoon session to publicise the new album was one in which saw the two men arguably at their most playful best, the shackles of the evening had long been untied, and instead what the crowd who had waited patiently and with good humour were treated to was one of reveal, of moments where the pressure cooker of performance was replaced with fun, of reflecting on idolising Winnie The Pooh, of new songs and a smile, as broad and as deep as a cavern of hope, one that was not to be missed.

Across the half hour set, which included the songs Norman and Norma, Queuejumper, The Life And Soul Of The Party, I’m A Stranger Here, Everybody Knows (Except You), Assume The Perpendicular and Tonight We Fly, the sense of occasion dressed in the comfortable clothed in silk pyjamas and the teasing aroma of finally brewed Russian Caravan tea was felt across the second floor of the HMV Arndale store. Comfortable, relaxed, fun, a wonderful way in which to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Ian D. Hall