Absent Friendswas first released in2004. Describing the album,Neil said:The songs use stories and characters as a framework to pin my ideas on. Its mostly about the eternal battle between the pull of personal freedom and the comfort of domesticity.The album was recorded by Guy Massey, mixed by Nigel Godrich and features guest appearances by 6 Music DJ Lauren Laverne and French multi-instrumentalist Yann Tiersen.The whole album is rich, beautiful and can make you smile and cry on the turn of a chorusstated Phill Jupitus in the Radio Times, while the Guardian described it as anornate gemand Word magazine said,its Neil Hannons best yet. Stand out tracks from the album include singlesCome Home Billy BirdandAbsent Friends,as well as fan favouritesOur Mutual FriendandCharmed Life.The CD release consists of 2 discs: the original remastered album, with a second CD of B-sides, demos and alternate versions lovingly curated by Neil Hannon, much of which has never been heard before. The CD comes with a booklet of photos, credits and extensive liner notes written by Neil covering the context and inspiration behind the album and its songs.To mark the release, The Divine Comedy play five nights at the Barbican in London in early September and then later the same month, five nights at the Cite de la Musique in Paris. Performing as an eleven-piece ensemble, the bandwill play two albums from their catalogue in full each night. Absent Friends and Victory For The Comic Muse will be performed on the 5th Septemberin London and the 28th Sept in Paris.