Take That - Wonderland first-listen

The Guardian 80

This album of laser-guided, focus-grouped anthems, built around chant-heavy choruses, seems precision-tooled for the accompanying arena tour

Since their hugely successful reunion in 2006, matured boyband Take That have employed an open door policy vis-a-vis membership. On their return there were four of them – Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange. Then there were five, when Robbie Williams returned for the genuinely bonkers Progress album in 2010. Five then became three when Robbie toddled off to churn out more solo albums and Orange decided he simply couldn’t be arsed with the whole album/tour cycle. Like the friend you always accidentally leave out of a WhatsApp group chat, Orange often came across as the forgotten member, there to make up the numbers, a role that – as any fool knows – is vitally important in a boyband. In terms of dynamics and aesthetics, Take That: The Trio just looks wrong. Without breakdancing Jason Orange, a once sleek and reliable Ford Mondeo has become the boyband equivalent of a Reliant Robin.

Related: Singer Gary Barlow: ‘Worst thing anyone’s said to me? Never come back’