Peter Steward's 

Arguably the most complex and charismatic of Divine Comedy's albums. The music is often intriguing whilst losing nothing of the bands accepted quirkiness.

Possibly a statement about the end of the millennium but more likely an affirmation of life, this has some stirring harmonies and beautiful pseudo classical pieces.

There is pastiche a plenty about this offering with Neil attempting German nightclub music with "Sweden" and the full chorus giving vent on "Here Comes the Flood."

It is an album full of changes in tempo and style with some thought provoking lyrics in the form of "Life on Earth", the beautiful "Certainty of Chance" with its spoken poetical ending and "Sunrise" which brings hope to Neil's troubled homeland of Ireland. Understated pieces such as  "Commuter Love" also have their own appealing power.

Above all the success of Fin is that it stays fresh despite numerous plays.

Much more understated than albums such as Fin de Siecle and Casanova, Absent Friends shows Neil in slightly meditative muse.

There's plenty of classical strings here and plenty of mood changes and styles, but perhaps it lacks the ingenuity of some of the other albums.

And maybe it takes slightly longer to get acquainted with what's on offer here - not instantly accessible but nonetheless with the same trademark originality.

Certainly "Charmed Life," a song to his daughter, is poignant, beautiful and optimistic "I always seem to land upon my feet." He states adding that he snatches victories from the jaws of defeat. This is a real joy of a song that verges into vaudeville towards the end.

Elsewhere other songs seem to be heading into mediocrity only to be saved by choruses.

Lyrically it's another strong set with the title track particularly interesting and who else would get away with using words like peripatetically ("My Imaginary Friend") and Iconoclastic Images ("Freedom Road.")