| Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 17 November 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2023 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 56:46 | |||
| Label | BMG | |||
| Producer |
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| Madness chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie | ||||
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Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie is the thirteenth studio album by British band Madness. It was released on 17 November 2023 through BMG Rights Management. The album marks their first studio release in seven years, following Can't Touch Us Now (2016).
It would become Madness' first ever number one studio album in the UK.[1]
Background
Madness recorded the album in Cricklewood in early 2023. Matt Glasbey is credited with producing and mixing all tracks, except "In My Street", which was produced by the long-time Madness production team of Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley.[2] The creation of the record was spurred by the principle "Let Madness be Madness".[3] In a statement, Madness described the recording process as "the perfect antidote to the chaos of the past few years" and referred to their current form as "properly in the zone".[4] The result was understood as "their most harmonious recording experience to date".[5] The band announced the album on 27 September 2023 and premiered the lead single "C'est la Vie" on The Radio 2 Breakfast Show.[6] Accompanying the announcement, the band let British actress Helen Mirren give a "dramatic reading" of some of the lyrics.[3]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 81/100[7] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Classic Rock |   [8] |
| Mojo | [9] |
| The Observer | [10] |
| Uncut | [11] |
Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie received a score of 81 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[7] Mojo's Ian Harrison called it "floridly titled, slow burning" and wrote that "on record alone, there's plenty to intrigue. [...] Madness have made an album that is among their absolute best."[9] Phil Mongredien of The Observer described the album as "a fairly sedate mix of uplift and melancholy" and felt that "it doesn't quite match the standard of late-career high point The Liberty of Norton Folgate (2009), but the album is not without its moments".[10] Classic Rock wrote that "the roaring 20s has finally arrived",[8] and Peter Watts of Uncut remarked that while "the songs are written from multiple perspectives, they share a common mood – essentially life and its general absurdity". Watts additionally found that "the most distinctive Madness traits are all present" and the "biggest spiritual influence is the Kinks, another band adept at exploring London's darker undercurrents".[11]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Arranger(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Prologue: "Mr Beckett Sir..."" | 0:11 | ||
| 2. | "Theatre of the Absurd" | Graham McPherson |
| 4:13 |
| 3. | "If I Go Mad" | McPherson | Kearsey | 4:36 |
| 4. | "Baby Burglar" |
|
| 4:05 |
| 5. | "Act One: "Surrounded on All Sides.."" | 0:10 | ||
| 6. | "C'est la Vie" | Barson |
| 3:10 |
| 7. | "What on Earth Is It (You Take Me For?)" |
| 3:07 | |
| 8. | "Hour of Need" | Barson |
| 4:07 |
| 9. | "Act Two "The Damsel in Distress.."" | 0:12 | ||
| 10. | "Round We Go" | Daniel Woodgate | Kearsey | 4:18 |
| 11. | "Act Three: "The Situation Deteriorates.."" | 0:20 | ||
| 12. | "Lockdown and Frack Off" | Foreman |
| 3:12 |
| 13. | "Beginners 101" | Barson |
| 4:21 |
| 14. | "Is There Anybody Out There?" |
|
| 3:22 |
| 15. | "The Law According to Dr. Kippah" |
| Barson | 5:35 |
| 16. | "Epilogue: "And So Ladies and Gentlemen.."" | 0:17 | ||
| 17. | "Run for Your Life" | Foreman | Kearsey | 4:00 |
| 18. | "Set Me Free (Let Me Be)" | Foreman | 3:39 | |
| 19. | "In My Street" | McPherson |
| 3:38 |
| 20. | "Fin.: "Ladies and Gentlemen.."" | 0:13 | ||
| Total length: | 56:46 | |||
Personnel
Madness
- Mike Barson – keyboards (tracks 1, 5–7, 9, 11, 12, 14–16, 20), piano (2–4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19), programming (2–4, 6, 8, 13, 15), percussion (2), organ (3, 7, 10, 12–14, 19), marimba (3), electric piano (4, 6), Vox organ (4, 6, 8), tubular bells (6), bells (13), clavinet (17)
- Mark Bedford – bass guitar (2–4, 6–8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17–19), double bass (2, 4, 14)
- Chris Foreman – guitar (2-4, 6-8, 10, 12, 13-15, 17-19) programming (7, 12, 14, 17), brass arrangement (17)
- Suggs – lead vocals (2–4, 6–8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17–19), backing vocals (2–4, 6–8, 10, 12, 13, 18, 19); percussion (6, 8, 14)
- Lee Thompson – tenor saxophone (2–4, 6–8, 10, 12–15, 17, 19), spoken word vocals (2), backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 19), lead vocals (7, 15), percussion (15), brass arrangement (18)
- Dan Woodgate – drums (2–4, 6–8, 10, 12–15, 17–19), programming (10)
Additional musicians
- Martin Freeman – spoken word vocals (1, 5, 9, 11, 16, 20)
- Mez Clough – backing vocals (2–4, 10, 12–14, 17, 19), percussion (2–4, 6–8, 10, 12–15, 19)
- Steve Hamilton – baritone saxophone (2–4, 6–8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19)
- Richard Phillips – cello (2, 8)
- Matt Glasbey – programming (2–4, 7, 8, 10, 12–15, 17), synthesizer (3, 10, 14, 15), percussion (15)
- Ruth Elder – string arrangement, violin (2, 8)
- Mike Kearsey – trombone (2–4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19)
- Joe Auckland – trumpet (2–4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19)
- Sam Kennedy – viola (2, 8)
- Tina Jacobs-Lim – violin (2, 8)
- Spider J – backing vocals (3, 4, 6, 8, 13, 15, 17, 18)
- Darren Fordham – backing vocals (4, 15)
- Buster the Dog – vocals (4)
- G. V. Fairchild – backing vocals (10)
- Rachel Lander – cello (13)
- Will Gardner – conductor (13)
- Rachel Robson – viola (13)
- Dan Oates – violin (13)
- Kit Massey – violin (13)
- Matthew Ward – violin (13)
- Noel Watson – programming (17)
- Helen Downham – cello (19)
- Helen Fitzgerald – cello (19)
- Michael Nowland – cello (19)
- Nicholas Dodd – conductor (19)
- Alexis Barbera – double bass (19)
- Jonny Gee – double bass (19)
- Antonia Finch – viola (19)
- Bruce Wilson – viola (19)
- Helen Goatley – viola (19)
- Sarah Chapman – viola (19)
- Alison Gordon – violin (19)
- Caroline Bodimead – violin (19)
- Daniel Peev – violin (19)
- Hannah Paterson – violin (19)
- Kate Scrivens – violin (19)
- Katrina McWilliams – violin (19)
- Mathias Svenson – violin (19)
- Richard Smith – violin (19)
- Stelios Chatziiosifidis – violin (19)
Technical
- Matt Glasbey – production (1–18, 20), engineering (2–4, 6–8, 10, 12–15, 17–19), additional production (19)
- Alan Winstanley – production (19)
- Clive Langer – production (19)
- Dick Beetham – engineering
- Andy Coules – engineering (1–6, 8, 11, 20)
- Ada Binaj – engineering (13)
Charts
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[12] | 172 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[13] | 151 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[14] | 88 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[15] | 40 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA)[16] | 73 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[17] | 1 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[18] | 1 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[19] | 1 |
References
- ^ "Madness earn first Number 1 studio album with Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est La Vie". Official Charts. 24 November 2023.
- ^ Fu, Eddie (28 September 2023). "Madness Announce New Album Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'Est La Vie, Share Three Songs: Stream". Consequence. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ a b Levine, Nick (28 September 2023). "Madness announce new album Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Madness announce new album Theatre Of the Absurd Presents C'Est La Vie". Classic Pop. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Skinner, Tom (28 September 2023). "Madness announce new album Theatre Of The Absurd Presents C'Est La Vie". NME. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Major, Michael (28 September 2023). "Madness Announce Brand New Album Theatre Of The Absurd Presents C'est La Vie". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est La Vie by Madness Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Madness – Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie". Classic Rock. December 2023. p. 79.
- ^ a b Harrison, Ian (17 November 2023). "Madness Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est La Vie Review: Nutty boys enter the prog music hall of existential despair on 13th LP". Mojo. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ a b Mongredien, Phil (20 November 2023). "Madness: Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie review – the Nutty Boys and Martin Freeman's music hall act". The Observer. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ a b Watts, Peter (15 November 2023). "Madness – Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est La Vie". Uncut. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Madness – Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Madness – Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Madness – Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Madness – Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 24 November 2023". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
This page was last edited on 9 March 2024, at 09:59