Post by petchy on Nov 21, 2012 4:38:13 GMT
blog.thisfeeling.co.uk/2012/11/madness-oui-oui-si-si-ja-ja-da-da-lp.html
What a year it’s been for Madness. The band has already played gigs on the roof of Buckingham Palace as well as to millions during the Olympic Games’ closing ceremony, and now, to top it all off, they’re back with a tenth studio album, crammed full of simply stupendous pop songs, and surely their best work in thirty years. This is Madness as we’ve come to know and love them with the same infectious influences – ska, reggae, Motown, rock’n’roll, pop – pulsing through the veins. A punchy repeating hook with a cleverly evolving chord sequence (ala ‘Our House’) defines buoyant single release ‘My Girl’ and immediately it’s classic Madness. Even more impressive is ‘Never Knew Your Name’ – a fiercely melodic song built on a bed of disco beats, funky guitars and triumphant swooping strings. An exuberant Latino-style arrangement with calypso percussion and tongue-in-cheek lyrics showcases the band at their most light-hearted and playful during ‘La Luna', while the reggae-influenced ‘How Can I Tell You?’ entertains endlessly with proud and true piano, considered synths and a truly explosive chorus, complete with gorgeously textured vocal harmonies and pumping brass. Elsewhere ‘Misery’ is vintage two-tone that swings like a Chas and Dave barroom rock and roller, and album highlight ‘Leon’ will simply blow you away with uplifting ‘Mr Blue Sky’-style harmonies, expansive orchestral shenanigans and propulsive, grooving piano. Sonically it all sounds majestic, too, with a multitude of knob-twiddling talent involved, including Stephen Street (Blur), Owen Morris (Oasis) and Liam Watson (White Stripes). Magnificent stuff from a band that sounds as powerful and relevant in 2012 as it ever has.
