The news is official. Grandiloquently entitled Theatre of the Absurd presents C’est La Vie, the new Madness album will be released November 17. It features 14 new tracks bracketed by spoken word interludes with actor Martin Freeman. Contrary to fan rumors, there is no deluxe edition with bonus tracks at this time, although there are plenty of various format bundles available from the official Madness shop. For the convenience of U.S. fans, the CD and vinyl are up for preorder at Amazon and other domestic retailers.
Behold the intriguingly dramatic track listing:
- Prologue: “Mr Beckett Sir…”
- Theatre of the Absurd
- If I Go Mad
- Baby Burglar
- Act One: “Surrounded on All Sides…”
- C’est La Vie
- What On Earth Is It (You Take Me For?)
- Hour of Need
- Act Two: “The Damsel in Distress..”
- Round We Go
- Act Three: “The Situation Deteriorates…”
- Lockdown and Frack Off
- Beginners 101
- Is There Anybody Out There?
- The Law According to Dr. Kippah
- Epilogue: “And So Ladies and Gentlemen…”
- Run For Your Life
- Set Me Free (Let Me Be)
- In My Street
- Fin.: “Ladies and Gentlemen…”
As a teaser, the band released a limited-edition 4-track CD promo called Theatre of the Absurd Introduces C’est La Vie. This hot little ticket immediately sold out, to the regret of Madheads like myself who didn’t click “Add to Cart” swiftly enough. But we’re consoled by the digital release of three of those preview songs, including first single “C’est La Vie” along with “If I Go Mad” and “What On Earth Is It (You Take Me For?)”
Ladies and gentlemen, this album is shaping up to be a fucking phenomenal Madness masterwork.
“If I Go Mad” is a pure firecracker written by Suggs. I do have to say the studio arrangement is not quite as explosive and dynamic as the version that debuted in 2021’s The Get Up! livestream, but this is always the case for me when my first time hearing a great new song comes in a memorable live performance.
The title track (or I guess one of the two title tracks) “C’est La Vie” is a brilliant Mike Barson composition, a sort of 21st century update of “Grey Day,” wailing in resistance against “a tyrannical heaven.”
Then we get “What On Earth Is It (You Take Me For?),” a tasty Thompson/Foreman number previously tried out live under the working title “Pussy Galore.” To me this is a much more successful realization of the chaotic road-to-hell sound Lee was going for in “Mumbo Jumbo.” It’s filthy, funky, slinky and depraved. You got to love it!
I’ve also heard the fourth track exclusive to the way-too-limited CD, “Is There Anybody Out There?” I don’t know the songwriter, but I’m guessing Chrissy Boy is at least a co-author. It’s got the strongest lead guitar lines of the new four songs, and I’m feeling that “edgy” attitude Chris says he contributed to the recordings.
All of these advance tracks share a similar vibe that’s wise and world-weary, beaten down by bullshit and the changing times, but not yet ready to give up. Throughout I feel the spirit of Ian Dury: if Ian were alive today, what kinds of songs would he write about the ridiculous state of the 2020s? I think Madness is giving us a good approximation.
It’s too soon to draw conclusions yet, but listening to these songs makes me think Madness set out to top The Liberty of Norton Folgate. “C’mon lads, everyone likes to say that was our best, but let’s show ’em we got one more in us even better.” The heavy dramaturgy in that tracklist convinces me they’ve dug really deep down to put on a hell of a show. Now let’s wait patiently for the curtain to rise.
Stateside Madness 