The Divine Comedy

@Tivoli BBVA, Lisbon

By Francisco Morais

February 9^th, 2017

After six long years, one of the most unique and acclaimed songwriters in pop is back doing what he does best. “The Divine Comedy is me at my purest,” says Neil Hannon. “It's like potcheen, completely unadulterated 100 per cent proof Hannon brain. Whether that's a good thing or not may depend on your taste.”

Foreverland is The Divine Comedy's eleventh album and features twelve flamboyantly melodic, lyrically audacious, sumptuously arranged, fantastically overblown and quietly moving songs of everyday relationships.

“Perhaps this is my imperial phase,”says Hannon of an album that sets ordinary life to an extraordinary musical accompaniment. It's crammed with vivid orchestrations, lusty horns, luxurious strings, vast choral harmonies, a rocking rhythm section and the unexpected intrusion of a braying donkey. “I like glorifying mundanity,”explains Hannon.