Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Absent Friends (album)

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Recorded
  
2001–03

Artist
  
The Divine Comedy

Producer
  
Neil Hannon

Length
  
45:56

Release date
  
29 March 2004

Label
  
Parlophone

Absent Friends (album) httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumb0

Released
  
29 March 2004 (UK & Europe) 4 May 2004 (US)

Studio
  
RAK Studios, St John's Wood, London and Konk Studios, London

Absent Friends (2004)
  
Victory for the Comic Muse (2006)

Genres
  
Rock music, Baroque pop, Alternative rock, Chamber pop

Similar
  
The Divine Comedy albums, Rock music albums

Absent Friends is the eighth studio album by The Divine Comedy. It was released by Parlophone in the UK on 29 March 2004 and by Nettwerk in the US on 4 May 2004. Two singles were released from the album in the UK: "Come Home Billy Bird", which features former Kenickie vocalist Lauren Laverne (now a BBC 6 Music DJ) on vocals, and the album's title track.

Contents

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. He 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.

The divine comedy absent friends


Track listing

All songs written by Neil Hannon.

  1. "Absent Friends" – 3:40
  2. "Sticks & Stones" – 4:48
  3. "Leaving Today" – 4:18
  4. "Come Home Billy Bird" – 4:07
  5. "My Imaginary Friend" – 2:43
  6. "The Wreck of the Beautiful" – 4:58
  7. "Our Mutual Friend" – 5:58
  8. "The Happy Goth" – 3:36
  9. "Freedom Road" – 3:55
  10. "Laika's Theme" – 3:07
  11. "Charmed Life" – 4:41

Guest performers

  • Lauren Laverne – vocals on "Come Home Billy Bird"
  • Yann Tiersen – accordion on "Sticks & Stones"
  • Additional players

  • Miggy Barradas – drums on tracks 2, 4, 8 & 11
  • Rob Farrer – percussion on tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 & 8
  • Simon Little – double bass on track 8
  • Crispin Robinson – congas on tracks 4 & 8
  • Joby Talbot – plucked piano on track 9
  • Songs

    1Absent Friends3:41
    2Sticks & Stones4:48
    3Leaving Today4:19

    References

    Absent Friends (album) Wikipedia