Absent Friends (album)

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.

Absent Friends
Studio album by The Divine Comedy
Released	29 March 2004 (UK & Europe) 4 May 2004 (US)
Recorded	2001–03
Studio	RAK Studios, St John's Wood, London and Konk Studios, London
Genre	Chamber pop, alternative rock
Length	45:56
Label	Parlophone (UK & Europe) Nettwerk (US)
Producer	Neil Hannon
The Divine Comedy chronology
Regeneration (2001) Absent Friends (2004) Victory for the Comic Muse (2006)
Singles from Absent Friends
"Come Home Billy Bird" Released: 22 March 2004 "Absent Friends" Released: 14 June 2004

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
BBC	favourable[2]
The Guardian	[3]
Mojo	[4]
musicOMH	favourable[5]
Pitchfork Media	(7.8/10)[6]
PopMatters	favourable[7]
Q	[8]

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.

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"[9]
• 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

References

1. DiGravina, Tim. The Divine Comedy: Absent Friends > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
2. Charles, Chris (16 February 2004). "Review: Absent Friends". BBC. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
3. Sullivan, Caroline (26 March 2004). "Review: Absent Friends". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
4. "Review: Absent Friends". Mojo: 109. April 2004.
5. Wright, Helen. "Review: Absent Friends". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
6. Tangari, Joe (11 July 2004). "Review: Absent Friends". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
7. Medsker, David (24 May 2004). "Review: Absent Friends". PopMatters. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
8. "Review: Absent Friends". Q: 102. May 2004.
9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/fnhj/