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For some Neil Hannon obsessives out there, nothing the man will ever write could swoop to the heights of his Promenade album. Lush, beautiful and stunning his songs - particularly those not released as singles - have been in the 15 years since he formed The Divine Comedy.
Whatever Hannon obsessives think, the album version of A Lady Of A Certain Age is at least one of the best songs he's ever penned. The centrepiece of Victory For The Comic Muse, it tells the weepy tale of a demi-monde damsel, formerly known to galivant about with the smart set of the Cote d'Azur, but now washed up in the spiritual and material poverty of old age, unnoticed, unloved... and in need of a drink.
The lyrical concept is followed through right to the end with Hannon's rich baritone rarely sounding better, all of it over strings reminiscent of Michael Nyman and playful brass parps, accordion (is it?), lush harpsichord and a topping and tailing of acoustic guitar. Proof, if it were still needed, that Neil Hannon can be divine when he wants to be.
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