Who doesn’t like Madness? I mean, you have ‘Baggy Trousers’, ‘Our House’, ‘House of Fun’, Midnight Boat to Cairo’, ‘Lovestruck’ and ‘One Step Beyond’ to name a few classics by the collective. Of course, there is a more serious side to the band with songs such as ‘Must be Love’ and ‘Johnny the Horse’. They are not all full-on ska and uplifting sing-a-longs.

I recall a film that came out via BT and AMC during one of the lockdowns called “Before We Was We”, featuring the current members and the former member Chas Smash (if it wasn’t for him being the hype man, to begin with, I am not sure Madness would have been signed.) and this album kind of follows that theatre vibe. You have an introduction, prologue, acts, and, of course, the finish.

Leading off from the opening paragraph, this record is not your typical lively Madness album, but one that is quite reflective and discusses the current climate of world affairs. What is refreshing about the record is the band has made it the way they want it. Some fans might have got over-excited when the band announced a new album, clearly expecting the usual knees-up anthems. People like me, on the other hand, welcome this. It is quite an eclectic listen; for example, ‘Run for Your Life’ is rock, ‘If I Go Mad’ is funk, and ‘Set Me Free’  brings melancholy. Thommo takes over from Suggs to lead vocals on ‘What on Earth is it (You Take Me For?’ and ‘the Law According to Dr. Kippah’ with Suggs backing him on the latter. Thommo also does what is really the opening track (If you exclude the pointless prologue.), ‘Theatre of the Absurd’, where he does it in spoken word.

The prologue appears to be in a crowded place, more than likely a public house, because you can hear hubbub. I didn’t pay that much attention to that, the acts, and the finish because they are pointless fillers. They are short and add nothing except to give it a “theatre” feel. These are all narrated by the actor Martin Freeman. ‘In My Street’ has the familiarity of their classic ‘Our House’, and trust me, when you hear it, you will immediately come to the same conclusion.

I suggest the clowns who voted leave give this a miss because the band are unapologetic as they rip to shreds the sorry state Britain is in due to the consequences. They aim at racists and politicians and how the country is on its knees. Despite the raw subject matters, they are cleverly concealed among love, humour, catchy hooks, and optimism. It’s not your quintessential Madness record, and I am surprised this is their first ever No.1 album when they had some vibrant ones out during their pomp. It is worthy of its place and shows their more sincere and political side. It’ll be interesting to see if it becomes timeless due to the nature of the record. 

Song recommendations: ‘In My Street’, ‘Set Me Free’, ‘Theatre of the Absurd’

8/10