release date: Feb. 20, 1984
format: vinyl (GHS 4022) / cd (2010 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,64]
producer: Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley
label: Geffen - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: A) 1. "Keep Moving" - *2. "Wings of a Dove" (4 / 5) - 5. "March of the Gherkins" - 6. "Michael Caine" - - B) 2. "Victoria Gardens" - 4. "One Better Day" (4,5 / 5)
*track only included on the US version
5th studio album by Madness and originally released by Stiff Records is (as usual) produced by Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley. This particular edition of the album is an American issue with a different track listing and the replacement of two songs. The US issue includes the hit single "Wings of a Dove" - released as a stand-alone single in the UK - and "The Sun and the Rain" - these two exclude "Waltz Into Mischief" and "Time for Tea".
The band has slowed a bit down on its release-pace, as it has taken the band 1½ years since the last full studio album. In '83 the band released its second best of album, simply titled Madness and primarily for the American market after experiencing unexpected success with the single "Our House". from The Rise & Fall, which hadn't had a release there.
Keep Moving is once again a little more mainstream-shaped than its predecessor, and at the time of its release I basically regarded it as a clearly lesser release - a bit of a disappointment, really. But it's far from mediocre. It contains several truly fine songs, "One Better Day" being one of the band's absolute best, as I think it more than any contain that specific touch and tone that synthesizes the soul of the band - and then the voice of Graham McPherson is just spot on. In the 80s, I didn't like the broader production sound of the band much - too many additional arrangements and vocal harmonies, the absence of the characteristic ska revival, which altogether made Madness sound like so many other artists at the time. The track "Michael Caine" is another genius gem from an album that contains more than meets the eye.
Founding member Mike Barson took part in the recording sessions for the album but basically had left the band at the time of the album release. He would be replaced by Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello & The Attractions).
The album is not one of the band's best albums, but it doesn't need to be to be better than average.
This is still quite original and also a recommended release of the mid-80s. As I have both the US and the original EU issues, I do think the US version easily wins the battle. Both exchanged singles are better songs, which only increased the value.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
