One of the UK’s most beloved British bands Madness have today announced an expanded version of their first studio UK Official Charts No.1 album. Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’est La Vie (Enhanced Edition) is set for release on 7th June 2024 via BMG. Pre-order here.
The expanded album features 5 brand new studio tracks: I’d Do Anything (If I Could), No Reason, Hello Sun, Long Goodbye and Culture Vulture, all recorded during their C’est la vie album sessions. Also on the album are 7 live tracks recorded on last year’s C’est La Vie tour: Theatre of the Absurd, C’est La Vie, Hour of Need, Round We Go, Run For Your Life, In My Street and a cover of The Specials’ Friday Night Saturday Morning – a fan favourite on the tour.
Speaking on the album repack, Suggs said “What do we ave ere’ then? Only some more blinding tunes for a bumper version of our no.1 album ‘Theatre Of The Absurd Presents C’est La Vie.’ We’ve had a blast playing the new songs for you so thought we’d throw in some live version too. Hope you like them!”
The band have today released one of the new studio tracks featured. No Reason is a welcome, vibrant addition to the original album and proves the band’s melodic instincts are still very much intact. Suggs showcases his lyrical panache once again, singing “Pale sunshine, bright blue sky, feeling blue but don’t know why” over a catchy and tuneful melody. Madness’ ability to juxtapose the feeling and underlying message allows them to create a unique sense of majestic gloom, a theme ever present on the album.
Madness released Theatre Of the Absurd Presents C’est La Vie on the 17th November 2023 which soared triumphantly to claim the band’s first ever No.1 studio album in their 45 year career. The governing principle is: “let Madness be Madness”, with the result being an album of typically timeless brilliance that also reflects the wonky years of its creation, these 14 songs representing the cream of the bumper crop of tunes the group cooked up, whittled down this punchy, focused set. Speaking on the album’s success, Madness said: “Would you Adam and Eve it?! It only took us 40 years to get there but we’ve just gone and ruddy scored our first no 1 album.”
Madness will be heading on their C’est La Vie’ summer tour in June through to August, playing everywhere from racecourses to castles all across the UK and Ireland. The huge 19-date tour will call at Margate, Southampton, Plymouth, Newcastle, Lincoln, Edinburgh, Lytham Festival, Scarborough, Llangollen, Derby, Cardiff, Englefield Estate, Leeds, Ludlow Castle, Blackheath, Esher, Audley End, Belfast and Galway Airport. Tickets are available from Madness.co.uk.
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