Huzzah, It's time to talk about The Divine Comedy again!

This month has been one of many words, both those needed to explain the many varied responses to the work of Neil Hannon, and, very importantly, the number included within the songs themselves. For this blog, I would like to add the following: patience.

Joan Bakewell and Frank Skinner head to Dublin for the final heat of the competition, with 12 artists attempting to impress the judges by capturing the likenesses of actor Colm Meaney, Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy and singer-songwriter and violinist Sharon Corr

Things have been quiet lately at ‘Artist in Residence’. Some people have been here all the way through, some have dropped in and out, and others, due to this month’s subject content, didn’t event start at all.

Tonight We Fly. Dije que sería honesta. No puedo negar diez años de mi vida. En estos años una persona me llenó de música. Música suya y de otros. Divine Comedy, proyecto del músico Neil Hannon, es un grupo que me presentó el hombre con el que compartí esos años . De lo muchísimo que me enseñó de música, esta es la canción que más representa ese tiempo.

C’est la venue exceptionnelle de Neil Hannon, l’âme de la formation à la géométrie variable de The Divine Comedy, qui me réjouit par dessus tout. Sa voix clair, précise, posée et parfois dramatiquement profonde convient merveilleusement avec son songwrtiting. La musique est sa façon la plus directe et sincère d’émaner, d’évacuer ses émotions et il ne manquera pas de nous emmener dans l’univers qu’il a créé, provenant d’une autre époque, sa Pop baroque résonnant dans un Alhambra poli et propre

Le lendemain, c’est Divine Comedy qui joue en tête d’affiche sur la grande scène. Que dire si c’est un plaisir toujours renouvelé que de voir Neil Hannon en concert, lui qui entretient avec le public français une relation privilégiée depuis ses débuts en 1993, lorsque Liberation nous a permis de découvrir la pop symphonique et raffinée de l’Irlandais.

Stolen is 10 this year! We're having a party @thelexington on Sat 5th Sept http://www.wegottickets.com/event/330130

Soundtrack composer Andrew Skeet’s debut album can be seen as an eloquent provocation, one in which the listener is challenged to re-adapt whatever ear she has for the cinematic.

Regeneration is the first Divine Comedy album not to feature Neil Hannon on the cover. Instead we see sketched drawings of a faceless anatomical figure appearing to break into a sprint, a Vitruvian man straining to break beyond its limitations as it ducks past an imaginary finishing line. This is the game-changer, the album where things evolve and Mr Hannon adopts a more contemporary approach.

After the revelation of A Short Album About Love, I’m disappointed to find that once again, I cannot take this record in one sitting. This album is only three tracks longer than the last one, so it isn’t simply a matter of length. Why, then, is it such a difficult listen?

Writer and broadcaster Stuart Bailie is currently working on a book about how music was enmeshed in the Troubles. For the first time, he will read excerpts from the work-in-progress and play some of the music that counted, from Juke Boy Bonner and Paul McCartney, to Paul Brady, Stiff Little Fingers, The Divine Comedy and U2.

A Short Album About Love is the best Divine Comedy album by far so far. One bonus is the length. Eight songs in half an hour. I can handle that. It doesn’t bludgeon you to death with an avalanche of overlong dull tuneless condescension.

The Divine Comedy recorded at Summer Sundae in Leicester in 2007. Presented by Chris Hawkins.

The Divine Comedy will become the latest recipients of the Oh Yeah Legend Award on Saturday, November 14. To celebrate they’ll play a selection from their impressive back catalogue in the Mandela Hall after receiving the award.

On alternera ensuite entre la folk suave de Sun Kill Moon et le rock noise garage de Wand, en attendant la star de la soirée, The Divine Comedy, à l’extérieur. Je ne compte plus les fois où j’ai vu (et adoré) Neil Hannon, mais là je dois avouer que j’ai été un peu déçu par l’irlandais visiblement un peu éméché et un peu trop guilleret.

26 places pour le concert de The Divine Comedy (Neil Hannon solo). Délai de participation: Lundi 17 août à minuit

Les sueurs les plus froides ? Le concert de Divine Comedy (2002) pendant lequel des bourrasques de flotte tombaient à l’oblique, trempant la scène. Il fallait régulièrement éponger le clavier de Neil Hannon. De plus, c’était la seule année où nous n’avions pas pris d’assurance annulation. donc s’il avait fallu annuler, c’était la banqueroute assurée pour le festival.

I’m really regretting my months choice if I’m honest. I detest this album. If I didn’t choose this month I’d stop listening immediately. I’ll suffer on.

In recognition for his exceptional contribution to music, Neil Hannon has been announced as the latest recipient of the the Oh Yeah Legend Award. Having steadily created and released some of the most compelling music in Ireland over the past 25 years, Hannon will receive the award on the 14th of November in Belfast’s Mandela Hall and will play a selection of his vast back catalogue

Once again though I find myself unable to listen to the whole album in one sitting. I chew it down like a barium meal. This is not fun. It’s prompted some discussion among the AiR cognoscenti about Divine Comedy fans. To wit, is it possible that such a species truly exists? This is not to say that there’s nothing to like about this band at all.

With the news that Neil Hannon, aka The Divine Comedy, is to be honoured with the Oh Yeah Legend Award in Belfast later this year, here's an entirely subjective look at five of his finest songs…

Neil Hannon had originally wanted to call his band The Passion. But his father, at that time Bishop of Clogher, pointed out that, well, you know, the biblical Passion was at the very centre of his beliefs. So the young Hannon relented and decided to go for something literary — opting for Dante’s poem. The songwriter had, after all, attended a school in Enniskillen which could boast Beckett and Wilde amongst its alumni, so literary references were never far away.

The Divine Comedy, November 14, Mandela Hall, QUBSU, Belfast

Andrew Skeet is an English musician with a varied and impressive career. He's worked with artists including Sinead O'Connor, Suede, George Michael and the Boo Radleys, worked with Neil Hannon on The Divine Comedy and productions at the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre and worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has now signed a record deal with Sony Classical, and this is the first album he is releasing under that deal.

L’été s’annonce riche de retours gagnants. La première écoute du nouveau recueil de Neil Hannon n’en donnait pourtant pas forcément l’impression. Pas évident, quand on a été le dantesque crooner que l’on sait, de continuer à surprendre sans fondamentalement changer de recette.

Ca y est, vous avez pris vos pilules d’Omega 3 pour liquider l’excédent de cholestérol ? C’est bien, vous pouvez aborder The Divine Comedy sans risque de complications. Car la musique du groupe de Neil Hannon, si elle distille dans ses meilleurs moments une rare élégance, est souvent à la limite de l’easy-listening (les très musique d’ascenseur albums Casanova et Short Album About Love). Le précédent opus comportait deux très bonnes chansons et d’autres qui se perdaient dans des digressions moins convaincantes.

L’Angleterre essaie parfois de nous convaincre que nous sommes dans un monde qui n’a pas changé : L’Europe n’existe pas et les arrangements surannés font la loi. On n’en tiendra pour une fois pas trop rigueur aux sujets de sa gracieuse majesté si les références au passé sont celles de Divine Comedy.

Neil Hannon © brainfree

As my wife knows well – and indeed anyone within earshot in the last few weeks – I am very apprehensive about this month. The Divine Comedy, or Neil Hannon in particular, are a band that come with a heavy weight of prejudices: incredibly annoying; smug singer; a smattering of catchy songs; a dearth of impenetrable and grindingly unnecessary literary and cultural references. I could see this month as being a slog.

Neil Hannon, aka The Divine Comedy, is to be given an award to mark his long and storied career at a ceremony in Belfast in November. Since 2008, the Oh Yeah Legend Award has honoured the greats of Northern Irish music, and Hannon will join a list of previous winners that includes The Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers and last year's winners, Therapy?.

David Bowie, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Casanova, Charles Trenet, Tom Waits, Alfie, Walt Disney… Todos se dieron cita en el esperadísimo concierto de The Divine Comedy, materializados en la figura de Neil Hannon. El de Derry (Irlanda del Norte) repasó toda su carrera y le dio tiempo a remitirse a todos ellos sin copiar a ninguno.

The Divine Comedy will be the latest recipients of the Oh Yeah Legend Award, it has been announced.

Llegaba el gran momento del sábado. Neil Hannon y su banda actual se subían al escenario SON Estrella Galicia para hacer un repaso por la carrera de The Divine Comedy. El encantador Hannon echó la vista atrás para deleitarnos con temazos como "Everybody Knows (Except You)", "Becoming More Like Alfie", "Lady of a Certain Age" o "Generation Sex". Mención aparte merece la maravillosa-emocionante-épica (se me acaban los calificativos) "Our Mutual Friend" que, rizando el rizo, incluyó un guiño final al "Chandelier" de Sia.

A special Legend presentation and performance at the Mandela Hall, Belfast, November 14.

Neil Hannon’s The Divine Comedy will be the next recipient of the Oh Yeah Legend Award at Belfast’s Mandela Hall on November 14.

The Divine Comedy will be the latest recipients of the Oh Yeah Centre’s Legend Award. The group, aka Neil Hannon from Enniskillen, will receive the prize and perform at a special event at Belfast’s Mandela Hall on 14 November.

The Divine Comedy have been announced as this year's recipients of the Oh Yeah Legend Award, recognising the exceptional contribution of a homegrown talent to the music of Northern Ireland.

The Divine Comedy will be proclaimed home-grown legends when the band receive a special tribute this autumn.

The Divine Comedy band will be proclaimed homegrown legends when they receive a special tribute this autumn.

The Divine Comedy band will be proclaimed homegrown legends when they receive a special tribute this autumn. The chamber pop outfit fronted by Neil Hannon, from Enniskillen, will be given the Oh Yeah Legend Award in recognition of their exceptional contribution. It will be presented during a special performance at the Mandela Hall in Belfast on November 14.

The Divine Comedy band will be proclaimed homegrown legends when they receive a special tribute this autumn. The chamber pop outfit fronted by Neil Hannon, from Enniskillen, will be given the Oh Yeah Legend Award in recognition of their exceptional contribution. It will be presented during a special performance at the Mandela Hall in Belfast on November 14.

The Divine Comedy will be proclaimed homegrown legends when they receive a special tribute this autumn. The chamber pop band, fronted by Neil Hannon, will be given the Oh Yeah Legend Award during a special performance at the Mandela Hall in Belfast on November 14.

Everybody knows this month’s Artist In Residence (except you)…

The Divine Comedy y un jardín botánico al fondo

1. The Divine Comedy – My Lovely Horse No contest, hands down: the best song ever written about a pet. For their Eurovision entry, Father Ted and Father Dougal laid their tender lyrics over an obscure Norwegian b-side from the 70s. Everyone involved in the song – the writers, performers, label, the people who owned the copyright – had died in a plane crash. It had to be a winner.