On June 19, 2006, “Parlaphone” label released “Victory for the Comic Muse”, the ninth Divine Comedy (The) studio album. It was recorded in December 2005, and was produced by Neil Hannon.

Personnel:

• Neil Hannon – vocals, keyboards, acoustic and electric guitar, banjo
• Ian Watson – accordion
• Andrew Skeet – piano, harpsichord
• John Evans – acoustic and electric guitar
• Dougie Payne – electric bass
• Simon Little – electric bass, double bass
• Tim Weller – drums
• Rob Farrer – percussion
• Charlotte Glasson – baritone and tenor saxophone
• Chris Richards – clarinet
• Eliza Marshall – flute
• Matthew Gunner – French horn
• Ilid Jones – oboe, cor anglais
• Mike Kearsey – trombone
• Daniel Newell – trumpet
• Alison Dods – violin
• Andrew Haveron – violin
• Anna Kirkpatrick – violin
• Calina De La Mare – violin
• Gillon Cameron – violin
• Lucy Wilkins – violin
• Rick Koster – violin
• Ruth Rogers – violin
• Sonia Slany – violin
• John Metcalfe – viola
• Reiad Chibah – viola
• Chris Worsey – cello
• Ian Burdge – cello
• Camilla Pay – harp
• Celine Saout – harp

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Hannon except where noted.

1. To Die a Virgin
2. Mother Dear
3. Diva Lady
4. A Lady of a Certain Age
5. The Light of Day
6. Threesome
7. Party Fears Two – Billy Mackenzie, Alan Rankine
8. Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World
9. The Plough
10. Count Grassi’s Passage Over Piedmont
11. Snowball in Negative