Well, after a triumphant return to the world of pop with Patience, Take That are riding high in the charts once again with Shine.

I can’t begrudge the guys their success, because they were always a talented pop act. And Patience was a great single. But…..

(you knew there was going to be a ‘but’, didn’t you?)

I can’t help thinking it sounds terribly derivative. That pounding piano, the up-tempo, happy harmonies and the psychadelic video with the seemingly endless steps and silver-clad dancers? It sounds like a missing Beatles single.

Oh, and speaking of missing, Mark Owen looks increasingly like the missing link with each passing day. He’s like a small, wizened monkey, a far cry from the cheeky chappie, cutest boy in the boy band that he used to be.

Alright Mark, that wasn’t fair. Sorry for the personal attack.

Back to the music. Arrrgggh! I’ve listened to Shine more than my fair share, and it just sounds canned. The piano in particular for some reason sounds repetitive – you can almost hear the digital loop. There’s no variation in the tone. Mark’s voice sounds unemotional, like he’s going through the motions.

Maybe I’m being cynical, but are Take That just topping up the pension fund? Will they break the hearts of 30-somethings yet again when their bank balances are a bit healthier and they go their seperate ways? And is this Robbie to rejoin Take That nonsense all a careful media ploy to keep interest in the band at fever pitch?

Who knows? For my money, Shine is a bit of a let-down after the sheer quality of Patience. I’d love to see the boys continue to succeed, but they need to release better material than this.