2022 Contenders: A Divine Hidden Album

One of our greatest living songwriters has released one of the best albums of the year, yet very few people know about it. That's because it's an extra disc, hidden away at the back of a new 2-CD Greatest Hits collection. It's called the Super Extra Bonus album and it comes only with the Special Edition of The Divine Comedy's latest collection... but it's as good as any of the albums Neil Hannon has released previously (and there have been some very good ones, which is why the 2-CD Best Of is an essential purchase for most people, regardless). 

The CD contains ten songs in total, 11 if you count The Best Mistakes, a brand new, career-appraising single Hannon snuck into the middle of all the oldies on the other discs...

It's strange to think that The Divine Comedy sprang up during Britpop, and were even championed by that era's biggest cheerleader, Chris Evans. Because Neil Hannon's music is about as far away from Shed Seven and Ocean Colour Scene as could be, has nothing in common with Blur or Oasis, and shares only an arched eyebrow with Jarvis Cocker's Pulp. It owes far more to Cole Porter, Noel Coward and 60s crooners like Scott Walker and even Engelbert Humperdinck than it does the stadium-rattling guitar anthems that soundtracked much of my 20s. Yet it's all the more timeless for that. 

Perhaps that's why, of all the bands listed above, The Divine Comedy are the only one still going strong, still producing essential albums, while their oldies haven't dated a bit. 

Hannon's unique character shines through on this latest collection - he always comes across as a cheeky chap,  yet rather lazy. A rakish bon vivant who doesn't really like leaving the house. It's a part he's played for years now, and he sets his stall perfectly with the opening track here...

One day I'll marshal my resources

One day I'll write my symphony

One day I'll fight for noble causes

One day I'll finish Ulysses

One day I'll stand for public office

One day I'll have my finest hour

I'll say "Put people before profit"

And they will sweep me into power

'Till then I'll watch some television

'Till then I'll struggle out of bed

'Till then I'll work with what I'm given

'Till then I'll take what I can get

As he says on his website, "I know there are all these brilliant and worthwhile things I should be doing, but frankly who can be arsed?"

This continues on the song Don't Make Me Go Outside, which Hannon claims recaptures the lonely summers of his youth. 

Please don't make me go outside

I might meet someone I know

No, don't make me go outside

I'd have to say hello

Well everyone else knows what to do

Knows what is what

Knows who is who

If you don't mind

I think I'll stay inside

I can empathise...

Not that he doesn't secretly wish he was The Adventurous Type, mind...

In truth, there's not a song in this collection that doesn't make me grin from ear to ear. From the "pretend Eurovision hit" that pays tongue-in-cheek tribute to Julio and Enrique Iglesias, Te Amo España... to the Scooby-quoting ode to Greta Thunberg, Those Pesky Kids.

Best of all is this aching Porter-esque ballad that doubles up as both a "missing you" tune and a reaction to the Covid lockdown. 

It's worth reiterating that all these songs are hidden away on a limited edition "for fans only" bonus disc. Most artists would give their eye teeth for such a quality collection of tunes. Hannon releases them without any fanfare at all. Just another of the Best Mistakes he's ever made...