Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy and his discerning tastes

Waking up to…
REM - Get Up
“I’d put this very apt rock ’n’ roll on while I collected myself, and prepared for my boiled egg and Marmite soldiers.”

Having Breakfast…
The Cardigans - Beautiful One
“I love the Cardies despite myself. They’re somewhat superficial, but get past the image and they’re actually rather complicated.”

Dressing to…
Underworld - Born Slippy
“I don’t want to go out - I’d love to stay indoors all the time. As something workmanlike to get me out of the door, this makes be feel E’d up - on clothes.”

Strolling to…
Michael Nyman - The Draughtsman’s Contract
“This keeps one pacing along. He’s very pulsing and vibrating. I saw him at the Edinburgh festival and I gave him my LP and said, ‘Please don’t sue.’”

Taking tea to…
Ravel - Pavenne For A Dead Princess
“While having my Earl Grey and a water biscuit with peanut butter and Branston on it, I’d listen to this and cry into my tea.”

Meeting a lover to…
Roxy Music - Do The Strand
“I’d meet her at a betting shop and we’d hear this early glam song. We wouldn’t go in though - think of the people you’d meet.”

Having dinner to…
John Barry - Film Scores
“It would have to be Midnight Cowboy - the song goes round and round and gets lost up its own arse.”

Seduction sounds…
John Coltrane and Don Cherry - The Avant Garde
“This is very much the thing. Basic quartet jazz, with a rather odd edge - just like me - to confuse this person just enough to get them off their guard.”

Sleeping to…
Blur - Beetlebum
“I can’t normally sleep when music’s on, because I listen too intensely. But I’ll make an exception for Blur.”


Neil Hannon
FHM 04/1997