Promenade (The Divine Comedy album)

Promenade is the third album by Northern Irish chamber pop band the Divine Comedy, released in 1994 on Setanta Records.

Background

Recording

Promenade, like its predecessor, Liberation, was recorded by frontman Neil Hannon and co-producer Darren Allison, with the addition of a string quartet, as well as oboe/cor anglais courtesy of Joby Talbot, thus marking Talbot's first appearance with the band. Talbot would go on to become the arranger for most of the Divine Comedy's post-Casanova work, even co-writing two of the band's songs.

Concept

One recurring element in Promenade is water, mentioned in one way or another in the songs "Bath", "A Seafood Song", "Geronimo", "The Summerhouse", "Neptune's Daughter" and "Tonight We Fly". The North Sea, itself, even plays a part in the album: producer Darren Allison made field recordings at North Blyth and Druridge Bay on the Northumberland Coast, which can be heard at the beginning of "Bath" and again in "Neptune's Daughter".
Another recurring element is gods from Greek and Roman mythology: specifically, Aphrodite, Mercury and Neptune.

Composition

Promenade is "a concept album about two lovers at the sea". The album's style is even more classical-influenced than its predecessor, Liberation. The string arrangements are reminiscent of the works of Michael Nyman, with whom the Divine Comedy would later collaborate. Hannon once said that after attending one of Nyman's performances he went up to the composer, handed him a copy of Promenade, and jokingly said, "You can sue me if you like." Years later, Nyman said he did not remember the incident, but said he felt more "flattered than ripped off."

Reception

Neil Hannon used to send all of his albums to American singer-songwriter Scott Walker, of whom Hannon is a big fan. After Hannon sent Walker a copy of Promenade, Walker sent him a letter back, stating that he particularly liked "The Booklovers".

Track listing

All songs written and arranged by Neil Hannon.
'2020 Remaster Bonus Disc Apropos of Promenade'''''

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.
Musicians

Natalie Box – 1st violin
Catherine Browning – 2nd violin
Jessamy Boyd – viola
Alan Simpson – viola
Chris Worsey – cello
Joby Talbot – oboe, saxophone, cor anglais
Darren Allison – drums, percussion
Neil Hannon – everything else

Production

Darren Allison – engineer, mixing, producer
Neil Hannon – producer
Pascal Giovetti – assistance
Rowan Stigner – assistance
Ian Mcfarlane – assistance
Kevin Westenberg – all photography

Samples

The sample at the beginning of "The Booklovers" features Audrey Hepburn from the 1957 film Funny Face.
Further samples during "The Booklovers" feature Graham Chapman, Michael Palin and John Cleese from the third and sixth episodes of series 1 of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
The sample in "When the Lights Go Out All Over Europe" is from the 1960 film À Bout de Souffle.
The sample in "Ode to the Man" features Micheál Mac Liammóir quoting John Dryden's English translation of one of Horace's odes in the 1963 film Tom Jones.