As they release their second album as a trio and prepare another huge tour (six nights at the O2 in June), Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen look well settled in the job of continuing to be Take That.
Their eighth album overall feels like business as usual too, with a full sound rich in arm-waving choruses and blandly uplifting lyrics (“Music makes me feel good,” “We can conquer any mountain,” “Every morning is a brand new day,” etc).
The handful of songs produced by Stuart Price are the most fun, especially the vibrant rock of Owen’s song River and the sparkling disco of Lucky Stars.
Sometimes the group plod when striving for gravitas, as on Hope and It’s All For You, but there’s enough here that will thrill the masses when they’re back on stage again.
(Polydor)