Neil Hannon is a genius. The Northern Irish force behind The Divine Comedy has been writing albums full of poignant, literate baroque pop since the 1990s. On Rainy Sunday Afternoon, his first full-length in six years, Hannon bestows another 11 gems upon us, including the masterful dunk on MAGA, “Mar-a-Lago By the Sea.”
The song itself is drenched in oceanic kitsch, stylistically reminiscent of mid-20th century exotica albums. Against a backdrop that evokes images of sandy beaches and coconut cocktails, Hannon croons recollections of past holidays as if he’s singing to a supper club full of seniors. “Mar-a-Lago, dare I dream/That someday I will be/Within your walls again,” he sings. Then, he drops the bombs.
Without breaking character, Hannon describes Florida Man’s idea of the White House with its “cheating losers on the greens” and “fascist leeches.” He goes on, with postcard perfection, “Mar-a-Lago, how I miss/The golden johns in which I pissed/All that ostentatious wealth/The paintings of myself/When I was young and free.”
Amongst the stated themes for Rainy Sunday Afternoon are memories and political upheaval, both of which come together here. The way that Hannon taps into the “remember when” vibe that permeates conservative politics in order to satirize it is a smart creative decision. It’s not like a song is going to change minds— IDK if a cult deprogrammer could handle that task at this point— but it’s something that all of us who are embarrassed to be American can appreciate. And, to be honest, the more international artists who call us out on this bullshit, the better. After all, who knows how much longer those of us in the States are going to have the means to do it.
It’s a shame that The Divine Comedy isn’t better known in the U.S. Pre-streaming, their albums were hard to come by out here and I don’t think access-to-everything has really increased the band’s visibility, although plenty will recognize Hannon’s TV/film work from Father Ted, The IT Crowd and Wonka. The Divine Comedy’s sound is a very specific, but not particularly genre-adherent one, that I would recommend to people who are into Scott Walker, Pulp and Belle & Sebastian.
Mortality is the most prominent theme on Rainy Sunday Afternoon. It opens with “Achilles,” which brings Greek myth to song with a subtle nod to spaghetti western scores and a light dose of psychedelia. “The Last Time I Saw the Old Man” is a classic Divine Comedy heartbreaker, a portrait so vivid that it will instantly trigger any empathetic urge in you. Lyrically, Hannon hits that emotional core again on “All the Pretty Lights,” about childhood memories, and closer “Invisible Thread,” which reflects on the parent-child relationship.
The Divine Comedy songs are frequently lush productions that bring together a bevy of musical influences, but Hannon’s observations are always what make them stand out. Take “The Man Who Turned Into a Chair” as an example. It’s a fanciful tale about, well, a man who turns into a chair, but it’s really about settling into a sedentary life. “It cradled his thighs and it coddled his soul/No one was surprised when it swallowed him whole,” he sings. “There’s no return when you’re part of the furniture.”
Meanwhile, “Down the Rabbit Hole” uses Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as a point of reference for how weird everyone and everything is right now. “The world is black and white,” the song goes, “And we’re always right/We’ve gone too deep to turn back now.” The song has a bit of a psychedelic Beatles flair to it, which is fitting considering that The Divine Comedy recorded Rainy Sunday Afternoon at Abbey Road.
As much as “Mar-a-Lago By the Sea,” is a specific comment on contemporary America, “The Man Who Turned Into a Chair” and “Down the Rabbit Hole” are the two songs that sum up these times on a more general, global level.
There’s a deluxe edition of Rainy Sunday Afternoon that’s also out now. That’s the version that I purchased (digitally) and it’s worth it, as you’re essentially getting the full-length plus another full-length with 13 live tracks recorded in London and Paris. The song selections on the bonus album, including “Freedom Road,” “The Lost Art of Conversation,” “Life on Earth” and “Middle Class Heroes” complement the themes on Rainy Sunday Afternoon.
Rainy Sunday Afternoon by The Divine Comedy is out now.
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Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs or listen to the latest Beatique Mix. Follow on Instagram or Bluesky for more updates.
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