Albums: Madness Theatre Of The Absurd Presents Madness - C’est La Vie

In the early eighties, Madness frequented the singles chart regularly with ska-pop hits such as Baggy Trousers, House of Fun, and My Girl, amongst others.

Anyone familiar with their whimsical yet highly entertaining songs might be in for a shock with their thirteenth album, which is a concept one.

Sequenced as a three-piece act with a prologue, epilogue, and spoken word interludes by actor Martin Freeman, the album displays a darker side to Madness, though aspects of their nutty-boy past can still be heard at various points.

The title track conjures up images of London’s theatre land in lockdown on a haunting number; matters remain equally bleak on C’est La Vie.

You would never have thought you would hear Madness singing about artificial intelligence as they do on Run for Your Life, which comes with a warning about what the future may hold.

Elsewhere lead singer Suggs offers a love letter to his wife in the form of If I Go Mad, while Round We Go is a classic Madness song that would not sound out of place on one of their early albums, coming as it does with a jaunty pop style.

The band is to be applauded for not resting on their laurels and for becoming a nostalgic act. With Theatre of the Absurd, they have produced an album that is consistent, sharp, and observational, while still retaining the sound that defines Madness.