Finally, The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon has got the budget he deserves and has made the record that validates his past pretensions. The Barry White parody in the Jacques Brel-style tango Change aside, Hannon's vision of Scott Walker singing Noel Coward, arranged by Bacharach & Sondheim (and, in Casanova's case, "inspired by the writings of the 18th Century Venetian gambler, eroticist and spy"), is less concerned with parody than the realisation of a maverick vision. Something For The Weekend, Becoming More Like Alfie and Middle Class Heroes make for a terrific, pop-centred opening, there is an oasis of acoustic calm in Songs Of Love, while The Frog Princess and A Woman Of The World lead the way toward the big-ballad climax of the 40-piece-orchestra-at-Abbey-Road scenario, The Dogs And The Horses. With strong melodies and a lyrical treatise on love that smoulders with knowingly arch comedy, this is music to appeal across all pop tastes. **** (4 stars)


Martin Aston
Q Magazine 06/1996