Release Date: Nov 17, 2023
An exclusive digital deluxe album of ‘Theatre of the Absurd presents C’est La Vie’ featuring six live tracks from Madness’ special launch gig in Camden last month.
After a disparate couple of years which saw the band at their most polarised and fragmented, Madness reunited in an industrial unit in Cricklewood at the beginning of the year, where Suggs, Mark, Chrissy Boy, Mike, Lee and Woody realised that what united them was always bigger than what divided them. Emerging re-energised and reinvigorated with a fresh bounce in their nutty step, the result was their most harmonious recording experience to date. For the first time ever, a brand new album came into the world that they were all completely agreed on. Theatre Of The Absurd Presents C’Est La Vie is the band's inaugural foray into self producing, working alongside engineer and mixer Matt Glasbey (Ed Sheeran, Maisie Peters, Rag’N’Bone Man). The governing principle behind Theatre Of the Absurd Presents C’Est La Vie, is: “let Madness be Madness”. The result is 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.
| Prologue: “Mr Beckett Sir…” | 0:12 | Bundle Only |
| Theatre of the Absurd | 4:14 | Bundle Only |
| If I Go Mad | 4:37 | Bundle Only |
| Baby Burglar | 4:06 | Bundle Only |
| Act One: "Surrounded on all sides..” | 0:10 | Bundle Only |
| C’est La Vie | 3:11 | Bundle Only |
| What On Earth Is It (You Take Me For?) | 3:07 | Bundle Only |
| Hour of Need | 4:07 | Bundle Only |
| Act Two "The damsel in distress..” | 0:13 | Bundle Only |
| Round We Go | 4:18 | Bundle Only |
| Act Three: "The situation deteriorates..” | 0:20 | Bundle Only |
| Lockdown and Frack Off | 3:12 | Bundle Only |
| Beginners 101 | 4:22 | Bundle Only |
| Is There Anybody Out There? | 3:22 | Bundle Only |
| The Law According to Dr. Kippah | 5:36 | Bundle Only |
| Epilogue: “And so Ladies and Gentlemen..” | 0:17 | Bundle Only |
| Run For Your Life | 4:00 | Bundle Only |
| Set Me Free (Let Me Be) | 3:39 | Bundle Only |
| In My Street | 3:38 | Bundle Only |
| Fin.: “Ladies and Gentlemen..” | 0:13 | Bundle Only |
| If I Go Mad (Live From Camden, 2023) | 4:44 | Bundle Only |
| Baby Burglar (Live From Camden, 2023) | 4:05 | Bundle Only |
| C’est La Vie (Live From Camden, 2023) | 3:07 | Bundle Only |
| Lockdown and Frack Off (Live From Camden, 2023) | 3:10 | Bundle Only |
| Beginners 101 (Live From Camden, 2023) | 4:24 | Bundle Only |
| Run For Your Life (Live From Camden, 2023) | 3:58 | Bundle Only |
