Up to now, Take That’s second coming was all about the narrative: a boyband maturing majestically, even briefly reuniting with errant fifth member, Robbie Williams. But now Jason has followed him, the trio need big tunes to stay afloat. Despite juicy producers such as Stuart Price and Greg Kurstin, III struggles. Many songs summon the carpe-diem-lyrics-meet-sub-Coldplay-pop style that has suited the band in recent years – Let in the Sun has a definite shimmer, I Like It adds a squelchy, glam-rocking shine; Portrait and Flaws also dig into older man melancholy – but none of their melodies sticks in the head or, crucially, the heart.
