its not a band i really harp on about too much these days, but in my formative years madness were the real heroes in my world. in fact, my very first 7″ single was their classic my girl thus creating the inner collector ssscum that sits here today tapping away on a crumb infested keyboard.

of course the story of the magnificent seven is well known, despite the gaping hole as to just why did chrissy boy walk out and then return to the fold as if nothing had happened, and i suspect that a lot of people are sick to death of the classics or is that just me ? naturally, even in the bands heyday i prefered their darker melancholy moments as opposed to the fan/radio friendly nutty phase such is my cheerful disposition.

so when an email dropped into the inbox yesterday advising of the bands forthcoming collaboration, sorry, with uk hip hop supremo sway i was somewhat amazed/shocked/surpised/excited and a little concerned.

apparently the band were selling the fruits of this cosey get together at recent concerts and i had no idea, so being what i am (ie an ex- card holding madness information service member ) i pulled a skinny tie and pork pie hat and voila ! today the heavy weight 7″ vinyl was carefully delivered to ireallylovemusic hq.

first things to note are the label. the band are apparently in charge of a new imprint called lucky sevens, which as any fan knows is a reference to the fact that if any of the band, umm, leave, then the magic dissipates and the results are never quite as good as when the band are the complete 7 strong unit. secondly, the record is set out to look like a very well worn jukebox 7″. the attention to detail is fantastic see below for more detail.

then when you drop the needle in the heavy set groove things get even weirder.

gone are the clean cut studio clive langer/alan winstanley ska-pop productions of old, and instead the final results are a ruffer and tuffer old school ska than anything they laid down inder the dangermen sessions. i suspect that the creation of their covers of ska classics kicked off some major inward analysis of the way forward for the band.

as i would go so far as to say that this is not a nostalgic look backwards to glory years track - but a whole new style. well, not totally, it is very much in line with the bands love for ska, the piano, the echo, and the whole knees up mother brown vibe, but the feeling that this is a fresher than fresh, but still ruffed up demo permeates the whole record.

even taking my lifelong affair with the band, i still have to concede that i loves it.

suggs is on fine form with his whole oh woe is me cheesy bloke vocal style which is then beat into shape by lifelong fan sway and his mate baby blue giving it the lippy girl moves over the frenetic ska loops.

another small fan pleaser i should mention is the run out groove.

if you, or more probably your dad, have a few old madness 7″ singles hidden away then you’ll know about the messages in the groove.

i have always checked now, and this time around the legend is :

may contain nuts

so, could ‘07 be the year we see the magnificent seven riding back into the charts?

quite possibly - especially given the fact that there is a new album on the way, the ever rumoured glastonbury appearance which could easily be a push upwards in the bands profile, and the current love for all uk-centric ska (hello lily allen, ordinary boys, just jack) it could indeed be perfect timing for them to don their sharp suits once more and do that bloody nutty walk.

an english pop institution ?

too right - and i make no apology for such a declaration.

 

the single : artwork

music : stream of sorry available from the bands official myspace page : here

2 videos are available for this single, more detail : here