The Duckworth Lewis Method
Encyclopedia
The Duckworth Lewis Method are an Irish pop
group
formed by Neil Hannon
of The Divine Comedy
and Thomas Walsh
of Pugwash
. The Duckworth Lewis Method is also the title of the group's only album, which was released on 3 July 2009, a few days before the start of the 2009 Ashes
series. A concept album about cricket, the album has 12 tracks, one of which is an instrumental. The album was mixed and recorded in Dublin and was mastered at Abbey Road Studios
.
Hannon and Walsh have described their album as "a kaleidoscopic musical adventure through the beautiful and rather silly world of cricket."
The track 'Jiggery Pokery' features guest cameo performances from Phill Jupitus
, Alexander Armstrong
, Matt Berry
and more. Berry also features on the track 'Mason on the Boundary'.
On 9 September 2009 the band were put on hiatus.
The group recorded a "new national anthem for Ireland", or alternanthem, for The Irish Times
in March 2010 as part of the newspaper's St Patrick's Festival promotions. They wrote and recorded the theme song for the ESPNcricinfo video blog The Two Chucks.
In April 2010 The Duckworth Lewis Method album was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award. In an interview with the BBC, Neil Hannon confirmed that he and Thomas Walsh would be working together again in the future.
" on BBC Radio 4
ran a short feature on the album, asking "Why aren't there more songs about cricket?" in which entertainment reporter (and 2006 Daily Telegraph Fantasy Cricket
champion) Colin Paterson
interviewed Hannon and Walsh about the album.
On 16 July 2009 the band appeared on the BBC
's Test Match Special
during the lunch break on the first day of the second Ashes Test Match against the Australia
n team at Lord's. They sang a new song named 'Test Match Special'.
"The Age of Revolution" was released as a download-only single on 28 June 2009. It was announced that a limited one-track physical promotional copy of the single would be available to press.
Hannon and Walsh were interviewed for The Chap
(Aug/Sep 09 Issue) about the album and cricket. Amongst the points covered were a peerage for umpire Dickie Bird, the renaming of The Oval
as The Ovaltine
and the reduction of cricket beyond Twenty20
to just a coin toss.
and Thomas Walsh
.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
formed by Neil Hannon
Neil Hannon
Neil Hannon is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known as the creator and frontman of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy. The band's official website even goes so far as to say, "The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon," and Hannon is quoted in an interview as saying, "The Divine Comedy...
of The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy (band)
The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Ireland, fronted by Neil Hannon. Formed in 1989, Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation bar drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine...
and Thomas Walsh
Thomas Walsh (musician)
Thomas Walsh is an Irish musician and frontman for the band Pugwash.In 2009 he worked with The Divine Comedy singer Neil Hannon on a project called "The Duckworth Lewis Method", a cricket-themed band and album. Their single The Age of Revolution was released digitally at the end of June and the...
of Pugwash
Pugwash (band)
Pugwash is an Irish pop band fronted by Drimnagh-born musician Thomas Walsh. Pugwash has released four albums since its debut LP Almond Tea in 1999. The band signed a five-year deal with XTC founding member Andy Partridge's label Ape House in 2009...
. The Duckworth Lewis Method is also the title of the group's only album, which was released on 3 July 2009, a few days before the start of the 2009 Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
series. A concept album about cricket, the album has 12 tracks, one of which is an instrumental. The album was mixed and recorded in Dublin and was mastered at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
.
Hannon and Walsh have described their album as "a kaleidoscopic musical adventure through the beautiful and rather silly world of cricket."
The track 'Jiggery Pokery' features guest cameo performances from Phill Jupitus
Phill Jupitus
Phillip Christopher Jupitus is an English stand-up and improvised comedian, actor, performance poet, musician and podcaster....
, Alexander Armstrong
Alexander Armstrong (comedian)
Alexander Henry Fenwick Armstrong is a British comedian, actor and television presenter.-Early life and career:Armstrong was born in Rothbury, Northumberland, the youngest of three children, to Henry Angus Armstrong and his wife Emma Virginia Peronnet Thompson-McCausland, daughter of Lucius...
, Matt Berry
Matt Berry
Matthew Charles "Matt" Berry is an English actor, writer, comedian and musician. Berry is perhaps best known for his appearances in The IT Crowd, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace and The Mighty Boosh; he also had his own series, Snuff Box...
and more. Berry also features on the track 'Mason on the Boundary'.
On 9 September 2009 the band were put on hiatus.
The group recorded a "new national anthem for Ireland", or alternanthem, for The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
in March 2010 as part of the newspaper's St Patrick's Festival promotions. They wrote and recorded the theme song for the ESPNcricinfo video blog The Two Chucks.
In April 2010 The Duckworth Lewis Method album was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award. In an interview with the BBC, Neil Hannon confirmed that he and Thomas Walsh would be working together again in the future.
Promotion
On 21 May 2009, "TodayToday programme
Today is BBC Radio 4's long-running early morning news and current affairs programme, now broadcast from 6.00 am to 9.00 am Monday to Friday, and 7.00 am to 9.00 am on Saturdays. It is also the most popular programme on Radio 4 and one of the BBC's most popular programmes across its radio networks...
" on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
ran a short feature on the album, asking "Why aren't there more songs about cricket?" in which entertainment reporter (and 2006 Daily Telegraph Fantasy Cricket
Fantasy cricket
Fantasy Cricket is a part of the Fantasy Sports genre. It is an online game where you create a virtual team of real cricket players and score points depending on how your chosen players perform in real life matches. To win a tournament, you must work towards attaining the maximum points and the No....
champion) Colin Paterson
Colin Paterson
Colin Paterson is a Scottish journalist and broadcaster who is currently the entertainment correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live and was a presenter and reporter on BBC Three's Liquid News.-Early life:...
interviewed Hannon and Walsh about the album.
On 16 July 2009 the band appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Test Match Special
Test Match Special
Test Match Special is a British radio programme covering professional cricket, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 , Five Live Sports Extra and the internet to the United Kingdom and the rest of the world...
during the lunch break on the first day of the second Ashes Test Match against the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n team at Lord's. They sang a new song named 'Test Match Special'.
"The Age of Revolution" was released as a download-only single on 28 June 2009. It was announced that a limited one-track physical promotional copy of the single would be available to press.
Hannon and Walsh were interviewed for The Chap
The Chap
The Chap is a British magazine published six times a year and related books edited by Gustav Temple, proposing a return to a dandified way of life, involving tweed, pipe smoking, brogues and finely pressed trousers. The magazine has featured such noted Chaps and Chapettes as Stephen Fry, Leslie...
(Aug/Sep 09 Issue) about the album and cricket. Amongst the points covered were a peerage for umpire Dickie Bird, the renaming of The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
as The Ovaltine
Ovaltine
Ovaltine is a brand of milk flavoring product made with malt extract , sugar , cocoa, and whey...
and the reduction of cricket beyond Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
to just a coin toss.
Eponymous Album
All songs written and composed by Neil HannonNeil Hannon
Neil Hannon is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known as the creator and frontman of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy. The band's official website even goes so far as to say, "The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon," and Hannon is quoted in an interview as saying, "The Divine Comedy...
and Thomas Walsh
Thomas Walsh (musician)
Thomas Walsh is an Irish musician and frontman for the band Pugwash.In 2009 he worked with The Divine Comedy singer Neil Hannon on a project called "The Duckworth Lewis Method", a cricket-themed band and album. Their single The Age of Revolution was released digitally at the end of June and the...
.
- "The Coin Toss" - 1:08
- "The Age of Revolution" - 3:56
- "Gentlemen and PlayersGentlemen v PlayersThe Gentlemen v Players game was a first-class cricket match that was generally played on an annual basis between one team consisting of amateurs and one of professionals . The first two games took place in 1806 but the fixture was not revived until 1819. It was more or less annual thereafter...
" - 3:18 - "The Sweet Spot" - 3:06
- "Jiggery PokeryBall of the CenturyThe Ball of the Century, also referred to as the Gatting Ball or simply That Ball, is the name given to a cricket delivery bowled by Australia's Shane Warne to England's Mike Gatting. The event occurred on day two of the first Test of the 1993 Ashes series, which took place at Old Trafford,...
" - 3:23 - "Mason on the Boundary" - 4:22
- "Rain Stops Play" - 1:13
- "Meeting Mr. MiandadJaved MiandadMohammad Javed Miandad Khan , popularly known as Javed Miandad , is a former Pakistani cricketer who played between 1975 and 1996. He is Pakistan's leading run scorer in Test cricket. He has served as a captain of the Pakistan national cricket team...
" - 3:12 - "The NightwatchmanNightwatchman (cricket)In the sport of cricket, a nightwatchman is a lower-order batsman who comes in to bat higher up the order than usual near the end of the day's play...
" - 4:49 - "Flatten the Hay" - 4:18
- "Test Match SpecialTest Match SpecialTest Match Special is a British radio programme covering professional cricket, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 , Five Live Sports Extra and the internet to the United Kingdom and the rest of the world...
" - 4:02 - "The End of the OverOver (cricket)In the sport of cricket, an over is a set of six consecutive balls bowled in succession. An over is normally bowled by a single bowler. However, in the event of injury preventing a bowler from completing an over, it is completed by a teammate....
" - 2:50
See also
- 2009 in Irish music2009 in Irish musicThis is a summary of the year 2009 in the Irish music industry.- January :* On 6 January, it was revealed that a track from Enya's album And Winter Came... was to feature in a Japanese television drama...
- Neil HannonNeil HannonNeil Hannon is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known as the creator and frontman of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy. The band's official website even goes so far as to say, "The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon," and Hannon is quoted in an interview as saying, "The Divine Comedy...
- Thomas WalshThomas Walsh (musician)Thomas Walsh is an Irish musician and frontman for the band Pugwash.In 2009 he worked with The Divine Comedy singer Neil Hannon on a project called "The Duckworth Lewis Method", a cricket-themed band and album. Their single The Age of Revolution was released digitally at the end of June and the...
- Duckworth-Lewis methodDuckworth-Lewis methodIn the sport of cricket, the Duckworth–Lewis method is a mathematical formulation designed to calculate the target score for the team batting second in a one-day cricket or Twenty20 cricket match interrupted by weather or other circumstance...
- The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy (band)The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Ireland, fronted by Neil Hannon. Formed in 1989, Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation bar drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine...
- PugwashPugwash (band)Pugwash is an Irish pop band fronted by Drimnagh-born musician Thomas Walsh. Pugwash has released four albums since its debut LP Almond Tea in 1999. The band signed a five-year deal with XTC founding member Andy Partridge's label Ape House in 2009...