Office Politics (album)

Office Politics
Office Politics
Studio album by The Divine Comedy
Released	7 June 2019
Recorded	2017–2019
Genre	Art pop
Length	60:39
Label	Divine Comedy
Producer	Neil Hannon
The Divine Comedy chronology
Singles from Office Politics
	"Queuejumper"; Released: 3 April 2019; "Norman and Norma"; Released: 16 May 2019;

Last updated January 18, 2025

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	77/100^[2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[3]
Clash	7/10^[4]
musicOMH	^[5]
Paste	7.2/10^[6]
The Skinny	^[7]

Office Politics is the twelfth studio album by Northern Irish chamber pop band the Divine Comedy, released on 7 June 2019 by Divine Comedy Records.^[8] It is a concept album concerning the workplace and the ever-growing role machines play in it.^[9] The deluxe edition of the album features a bonus disc of Divine Comedy singer-songwriter Neil Hannon's original piano demos for his songs for Royal National Theatre's 2007 musical adaption of Swallows and Amazons .

Track listing

All tracks are written by Neil Hannon, except where otherwise noted^[11]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Queuejumper"		3:07
2.	"Office Politics"		4:02
3.	"Norman and Norma"		3:36
4.	"Absolutely Obsolete"		4:13
5.	"Infernal Machines"		3:05
6.	"You'll Never Work in This Town Again"	Neil Hannon, Marion Sunshine, Obdulio Morales, Julio Blanco Leonard	4:11
7.	"Psychological Evaluation"		2:40
8.	"The Synthesiser Service Centre Super Summer Sale"	Hannon, Tosh Flood, Ian Watson, Andrew Skeet, Simon Little, Tim Weller	3:51
9.	"The Life and Soul of the Party"		3:28
10.	"A Feather in Your Cap"		4:00
11.	"I'm a Stranger Here"		4:38
12.	"Dark Days Are Here Again"		3:15
13.	"Philip and Steve's Furniture Removal Company"		4:51
14.	"'Opportunity' Knox"		3:43
15.	"After the Lord Mayor's Show"		3:46
16.	"When the Working Day Is Done"		4:13

*Swallows and Amazons – The Original Piano Demos* bonus disc
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Whistle for a Wind"	6:04
2.	"The Swallow"	6:21
3.	"The Conquering Heroes"	4:24
4.	"Fighting Swallow"	1:16
5.	"The Amazon Pirates"	3:43
6.	"The Parley"	3:49
7.	"Better Drowned Than Duffers"	3:25
8.	"Let's Make the Best of It"	4:01
9.	"Navy Stroke"	3:00
10.	"Like Robinson Crusoe"	3:48
11.	"Titty's Dream"	4:10
12.	"Conquering Heroes, Victory Chorus"	1:55
13.	"The Black Spot"	3:23
14.	"The Parley – Flint's Apology"	3:26
15.	"Swallows and Amazons Forever"	2:57

Personnel

Credits adapted from Office Politics liner notes.^[12]

Musicians

Neil Hannon – vocals, synthesizers (tracks 1–5, 7–10, 13), guitars (tracks 1, 2, 9, 11 and 16), bass guitar (track 1), piano (tracks 1 and 2), electric piano (tracks 5, 9 and 10), percussion (track 1), sampler (tracks 1 and 6), handclaps (tracks 1, 9 and 13), drum machine (track 2), drums (tracks 2 and 7), Mellotron (tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15), mandolin (tracks 4 and 11), glockenspiel (track 4), electric organ (tracks 5, 6, 10 and 13), harmonica (track 6), banjo (track 14)
Simon Little – bass guitar (tracks 3–7, 9, 11, 12, 14–16) , backing vocals (tracks 1, 9, 12–14), handclaps (tracks 1 and 13), sound effects (track 5), synthesizer (track 8)
Andrew Skeet – piano (tracks 3, 4, 11–16), backing vocals (tracks 1, 9, 12–14), handclaps (tracks 1, 9 and 13), drums (track 1), electric piano (track 3), whistling (track 6), synthesizer (track 8), sampler (track 13)
Tim Weller – drums (tracks 1, 3–6, 9, 12, 14–16), handclaps (tracks 1 and 13), percussion (track 5), drum machine (track 8)
Ian Watson – backing vocals (tracks 1, 9, 12–14), handclaps (tracks 1, 9 and 13), synthesizers (tracks 3 and 8), organ (track 11), electric organ (tracks 12 and 14), accordion (tracks 12, 14 and 15), Mellotron (track 16)
Tosh Flood – guitars (tracks 2–6, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15), backing vocals (tracks 1, 3, 9, 12–14), handclaps (tracks 1, 9 and 13), drums (track 1), Mellotron (track 8), synthesizer (track 8), Omnichord (track 12)

Additional musicians

Ber Quinn – backing vocals (track 1), synthesizer (track 8)
Jake Jackson – backing vocals (tracks 9 and 14)
Katie Kissoon – backing vocals (tracks 2, 3, 9, 12 and 15)
Sonia Jones – backing vocals (tracks 2, 3, 9, 12 and 15)
Hazel Fernandez – backing vocals (tracks 2, 3, 9, 12 and 15)
Pete Ruotolo – backing vocals (track 1), guest vocals (track 13)
Chris Difford – guest vocals (track 4)
Cathy Davey – guest vocals (track 4)
Thomas Walsh – guest vocals (track 4), backing vocals (track 5)

Orchestra

Warren Zielinski, Richard George, Alison Dods, Patrick Kiernan, Tom Pigott-Smith, Natalia Bonner, Lucy Wilkins, Perry Montague-Mason, Gillon Cameron – violin (tracks 1, 11, 13 and 16)
Bruce White, Emma Owens, Reiad Chibah – viola (tracks 1, 11, 13 and 16)
Chris Worsey, Caroline Dale, Ian Burdge – cello (tracks 1, 11, 13 and 16)
Richard Pryce – double bass (tracks 1, 11, 13 and 16)
David Pyatt, John Ryan – French horn (tracks 4, 11, 15 and 16)
Mark Templeton, Richard Edwards – trombones (tracks 11, 15 and 16)
Dan Newell – trumpet (tracks 11, 15 and 16)
Owen Slade – tuba (tracks 11, 15 and 16)
Richard Skinner – bassoon (track 11)
Eliza Marshall – flute (track 11)
Max Spiers – oboe (track 11)
Martin Robertson – clarinet (track 11)

Production

Neil Hannon – production, engineering (tracks 2, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 13)
Ber Quinn – engineering (tracks 1, 4–8, 11–14, 16), mixing (track 7)
Guy Massey – engineering (tracks 1–3, 8, 9, 14 and 15), mixing (tracks 1–6, 8–16)
Jake Jackson – engineering (tracks 1, 11, 13, 15 and 16)
John Prestage – assistant engineering
Kevin Callanan – assistant engineering
Tom Leach – assistant engineering
Frank Arkwright – mastering

Design

Ben Meadows – photography
Raphael Neal – photography
Matthew Cooper – artwork design

Charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[13]	159
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[14]	63
French Albums (SNEP)^[15]	42
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[16]	51
Irish Albums (IRMA)^[17]	9
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[18]	2
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)^[19]	33
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[20]	78
UK Albums (OCC)^[21]	5

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References

↑ Hannon, Neil. "Napoleon's Last Hurrah – A Message From Neil *" . Retrieved 11 June 2019– via Facebook.
1 2 "Office Politics". Metacritic. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
↑ Monger, James Christopher. "Office Politics – The Divine Comedy". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
↑ Rowe, Felix (5 June 2019). "The Divine Comedy – Office Politics". Clash. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
↑ Wylde, Nicoletta (7 June 2019). "The Divine Comedy – Office Politics". MusicOMH. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
↑ Cudmore, Libby (10 June 2019). "The Divine Comedy: Office Politics Review". Paste. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
↑ Wild, Pete (10 June 2019). "The Divine Comedy album review: Office Politics". The Skinny. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
↑ "The Divine Comedy Office Politics". Rough Trade. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
↑ "Memo: The Divine Comedy Announce New Album 'Office Politics'". The Divine Comedy. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
1 2 Purden, Richard (14 June 2019). "Divine comedian Neil Hannon discusses Office Politics, Adam Ant and Reggie Perrin". Irishnews.com. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
↑ "The Divine Comedy – Office Politics". Discogs . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
↑ "Ultratop.be – The Divine Comedy – Office Politics" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
↑ "Ultratop.be – The Divine Comedy – Office Politics" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
↑ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 24, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Divine Comedy – Office Politics" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
↑ "Irish Albums Chart: 14 June 2019". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
↑ "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 24: del 7.6.2019 al 13.6.2019" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España . Retrieved 19 June 2019.
↑ "Swisscharts.com – The Divine Comedy – Office Politics". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 June 2019.

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[Napoleon's_Last*_Hurrah_–_A_Message_From_Neil_*-1] Hannon, Neil. "Napoleon's Last Hurrah – A Message From Neil *" . Retrieved 11 June 2019– via Facebook.

[mc-2] 1 2 "Office Politics". Metacritic. Retrieved 2 September 2019.

[3] Monger, James Christopher. "Office Politics – The Divine Comedy". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 March 2021.

[4] Rowe, Felix (5 June 2019). "The Divine Comedy – Office Politics". Clash. Retrieved 22 March 2021.

[5] Wylde, Nicoletta (7 June 2019). "The Divine Comedy – Office Politics". MusicOMH. Retrieved 22 March 2021.

[6] Cudmore, Libby (10 June 2019). "The Divine Comedy: Office Politics Review". Paste. Retrieved 22 March 2021.

[7] Wild, Pete (10 June 2019). "The Divine Comedy album review: Office Politics". The Skinny. Retrieved 22 March 2021.

[Rough_Trade-8] "The Divine Comedy Office Politics". Rough Trade. Retrieved 11 June 2019.

[Memo:_The_Divine_Comedy_Announce_New_Album_'Office_Politics'-9] "Memo: The Divine Comedy Announce New Album 'Office Politics'". The Divine Comedy. Retrieved 11 June 2019.

[irish-10] 1 2 Purden, Richard (14 June 2019). "Divine comedian Neil Hannon discusses Office Politics, Adam Ant and Reggie Perrin". Irishnews.com. Retrieved 17 June 2019.

[11] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[12] "The Divine Comedy – Office Politics". Discogs . Retrieved 29 December 2020.

[ac_Flanders_The_Divine_Comedy-13] "Ultratop.be – The Divine Comedy – Office Politics" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2019.

[ac_Wallonia_The_Divine_Comedy-14] "Ultratop.be – The Divine Comedy – Office Politics" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2019.

[15] "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 24, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.

[ac_Germany4_The_Divine_Comedy-16] "Offiziellecharts.de – The Divine Comedy – Office Politics" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 June 2019.

[17] "Irish Albums Chart: 14 June 2019". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 15 June 2019.

[ac_Scotland_-18] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 June 2019.

[19] "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 24: del 7.6.2019 al 13.6.2019" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España . Retrieved 19 June 2019.

[ac_Switzerland_The_Divine_Comedy-20] "Swisscharts.com – The Divine Comedy – Office Politics". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 June 2019.

[ac_UK2_-21] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 June 2019.

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v t e The Divine Comedy
Neil Hannon
Studio albums	Fanfare for the Comic Muse Liberation Promenade Casanova A Short Album About Love Fin de Siècle Regeneration Absent Friends Victory for the Comic Muse Bang Goes the Knighthood Foreverland Office Politics
Compilation albums	A Secret History... The Best of the Divine Comedy
Singles	"Lucy" "Something for the Weekend" "I've Been to a Marvellous Party" "Generation Sex" "National Express" "The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count" "Gin Soaked Boy" "Bad Ambassador" "Diva Lady" "To Die a Virgin"
Related	Discography The Duckworth Lewis Method Simon Little Joby Talbot