Absent Friends (The Divine Comedy album)

Infobox Album | Name = Absent Friends


Type = Album
Artist = The Divine Comedy
Released = March 29, 2004
Recorded = 2001-2003 at RAK, Abbey Road and Konk Studios
Genre = Rock
Length = 45:56
Label = Parlophone/EMI
Producer = Neil Hannon
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Aogd6vwzqa9lk link]
*"The Guardian" Rating|4|5 [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,,1177659,00.html link]
*Pitchfork (7.8/10) [http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/17035/Divine_Comedy_Absent_Friends 7/12/2004]
*PopMatters (Positive) [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/d/divinecomedy-absent.shtml link]
Last album = "Regeneration"
(2001)
This album = "Absent Friends"
(2004)
Next album = "Victory for the Comic Muse"
(2006)

"Absent Friends" is the eighth studio album by The Divine Comedy. It was released by EMI on March 29 2004. Two singles were released from the album: "Come Home Billy Bird", which features former Kenickie vocalist Lauren Laverne (now an XFM DJ) on vocals, and the album's title track.

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, Abbey Road and Konk Studios 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

#"Absent Friends" – 3:40
#"Sticks & Stones" – 4:48
#"Leaving Today" – 4:18
#"Come Home Billy Bird" – 4:07
#"My Imaginary Friend" – 2:43
#"The Wreck of the Beautiful" – 4:58
#"Our Mutual Friend" – 5:58
#"The Happy Goth" – 3:36
#"Freedom Road" – 3:55
#"Laika's Theme" – 3:07
#"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