The Divine Comedy, Lauren Laverne
Come Home Billy Bird

Let's get this clear from the off: I WAS a Divine Comedy fan up until the last album ('Regeneration'), which just took that quirky pop with loving lyrics and made it into something much bleaker and... well, for lack of a better phrase, boring.

I am pleased to report, however, that the new single is a return to form for Neil Hannon and his merry men, going back to their roots and producing beautiful throw-away pop of the highest quality! There's the plinking guitar, the multi-toned Mr Hannon talking about taxi drivers who suck, football matches, and an added bonus of being backed up by former Kenickie songstress Lauren Laverne.

OK, it is no 'Gin Soaked Boy' or 'Songs Of Love', but it is a welcome return by a band who showed pop music can still be interesting and non generic.