Regeneration - Divine Comedy (The) > Reviews > Next generation

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	Different for existing fans, appealing for newcomers
Disadvantages:	perhaps requires listening to in two sittings as a bit samey

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I have just settled down to actually review this album after enjoying the great experience of seeing the band live twice in one week, during their March tour. When I saw the band I hadn't actually bought the album. The new material was blended in with their old and it was noticable that it was of a slightly more sombre nature in general perhaps than their previous work.

You can definitely hear that the band has tried to change its direction slightly, with the aim of being taken more seriously as an indie group. We don't get a whiff of any characteristic harpsichords (alla 'Promenade'), or extensive brass arrangements (alla 'fin de siecle'). The only slightly quirky instrument used would have to be the recorder used on 'Perfect Lovesong'.

Having said this, I think it is fair to say that non of the quirk has been lost out of Neil Hannon's words for the album:

'I wanna chill. I wanna sit real still. I wanna sleep like the dead on a bed of roses. Me and my lovely wife, we're in the prime of life, honey'
(Bad Ambassador)

The words are as different as always, but delivered in a slightly less ironic fashion. At first I thought this would take a big chunk out of the charm of The Divine Comedy, but in fact it does give them a new lease of life and makes the songs intensely moving in places.

The album reminds me of the Cardigans' 'Gran Turismo'. They had a reputation for using different instruments and having a slightly different sound than the average guitar based indie combo, then they refined their sound, making it more guitary and minor-keyed ('the Gran Turismo') and suddenly everyone started paying attention.

I think it's good that bands can change their sound slightly, moving in different directions so that their albums have different charcters (perhaps Oasis should take note). 'Regeneration' is definitely not a disappointment to existing fans and it will probably allow the group to gain a few more followers too.

My favourite songs on the album are : Bad Ambassador, Perfect Lovesong, Lost Property and Regeneration

'Perfect Lovesong' is the most traditional Divine Comedy song on the album (style of 'The song-writer's fear of the Pollen Count'), it's up-beat and chirpy. 'Lost Property' is the obligatory 'list song' on a Divine Comedy album('A Seafood Song', 'The Booklovers'), this one containing lists of items that Neil Hannon has supposedly lost in his life (e.g. 'Passports and parkas, Mobiles and charges', 'C-class narcotics, anti-biotics'!). It sounds perhaps slightly trite but the song behind it actually makes it strangely moving, you can feel that the items stand for a lot more in life than their superficial worth.

The title track, 'Regeneration' is one that starts placidly and builds up to a series of contrasting loud, rockier sections. It is a great track which has grown on me...as has the whole album. It gets better upon each listen.