This Life by Take That: A bunch of middle-aged millionaires with very little to say

What Take That are now is a heritage act. They’re still able to embark on arena tours and their back catalogue is full of hits. But few will be clamouring to hear songs from This Life, their tired and safe 11th album.

It’s not so much of the work of a trio keen to show that they can surprise their fans, but a bunch of middle-aged millionaires with very little to say. There are vague lyrics about midlife tribulations and copious amounts of sloganeering lyrics, but there’s little that connects or feels in any way meaningful.

Worse is the absence of songs that could stand shoulder to shoulder with their best. And let’s not forget what a fantastic songwriter Barlow has been. His muse appears to have to deserted him this time around. Rather than trying to deliver memorable pop songs, they’ve gone for middle-of-the-road ballads, the weaker of which are sung by Mark Owen. Barlow’s vocal has always been more captivating, but the pair seem to have divvied up the songs between them. How democratic. Unfortunately, they have forgotten that easy listening shouldn’t mean boring.

The best track, Mind Full of Madness, hints at what might have been had they pushed the boat out even a little. While there’s craft to the arrangements, the whole thing feels like a wasted opportunity.

In 1992, when Take That were releasing their debut album, a young hip-hop artist was making his mark. Busta Rhymes is now a veteran of the genre and on his aptly named new album, Blockbusta, he gives the young wannabes something to strive for.

There are three big name producers here: Timbaland, Pharrell Williams and Swizz Beatz; and it shows. A large cast of guests appear and it can feel as though Rhymes is a passenger on his own album. But he is a wordsmith of real prowess and his flow is rarely short of impressive.

Remind ‘Em, featuring Quavo, is superb while Londoner Giggs takes The Hive down an intriguing direction.