(2010)
It is highly probable that Neil Hannon is the Noel Coward of the 21st Century. In fact, Mr. Hannon is to Noel Coward what Stephen Fry is to Oscar Wilde : both carry on the noble tradition of serious social commentary with a keenly witty, foppish sensibility. The album starts off setting the mood of 1930s depression malaise updated for current times with the moody, almost Busby Berkleyesque flair of "Down in the Street Below". There exists a certain 1930s musical feeling about life in modern times. Thus begins Hannons’ keenly observed commentary on the peculiar sense of disenchantment found in our contemporary era. "Complete Banker" is the perfect biting satire of the economic crisis delivered in the cabaret tradition that would make Weill, Brecht, and Kander & Ebb for that matter – extremely proud.
Title track, "Bang goes the Knighthood", is a Dandy Goth Pop rumination on depravity, addiction, and fetishism combined with upper-crust shame and fear of losing all due to the penchant for those particular transgressions. With lyrics such as ‘you make me feel something / and feeling something beats feeling nothing at all’, Hannon again touches upon the sense of profound disenchantment and disconnect with genuine emotions and experiences in this case which are taught cruelly in everyday life and how these predilections hide lurking in the shadows. Indie Disco has all the makings for a classic song of the summer ; gratifying, satiating, nostalgic. It feels just as good to dance drunkenly to this song as it does all the gems Hannon name-checks. Assume the Perpendicular, on the other hand, provides the perfect foppish party at a stately home built in the Georgian style. It is a party song for the Neo Dandy set.
This is by far the most politically motivated and topical Divine Comedy album to date. Hannon approaches these weighty subjects without compromising his signature breezy style, not once becoming heavy-handed. Hannon’s grasp of subtly and biting wit is one of the best and most adept to be found in any current music going on today. This is aptly demonstrated in Lost Art of Conversation which tackles the autistic sort of distance developed by the over-abundance of gadgetry and lack of personal contact with humanity. This song exists as a rebellious plea to join the resistance against the cult of online social networking.
When a Man Cries is a brave song about something natural that boys and men are discouraged from doing, proving to be elegant and heart-breaking. By anyone else, this could easily be executed in a corny and cringe-inducing manner. However, with Hannon at the helm, it is spot-on. The subject of masculine vulnerability is sorely left unspoken, and Hannon speaks of it movingly.
Give yourself an extra auditory treat by purchasing the double album, which includes a full-length live CD Hannon recorded in 2008 in Paris as an homage to French chanson, including brilliant covers of Jacques Brel’s Amsterdam, the Poupée de Cire written by Gainsbourg, not to mention Joe le Taxi by Vanessa Paradis.