Take That, Progress Live (Polydor CD/DVD) **** (From York Press)

Take That, Progress Live (Polydor CD/DVD) ****

11:40am Friday 13th January 2012 in CD reviews By Ian Sime

HELL can freeze over! Pollyanna could not have predicted the public reconciliation between Messrs Barlow and Williams two years ago.

Probably too much bad blood and too many nasty words had been shed. Even so, sceptics doubted the proposed Take That Reunion gigs would ever take place. But last August they did. These were not so much concerts as happenings, and for many the pinnacle of 2011.

From the first chord of Rule The World, the mostly female audience make as much noise as the full band fully amplified. Actually, the most ambivalent casual listener will already be passably conversant with Take That’s lyrics, but this devoted audience know every nuance, and they don’t mind sharing it with the world as they sing along karaoke-like throughout.

This may be annoying for some, but for those present in Manchester this CD & DVD package will be a revered artefact. The four-piece Take That start proceedings with their hits which are followed by a Sgt Pepper-themed entry for Robbie Williams to shout his way though five of his greatest hits. The Flood opens the third act, whereby all five showcase their Progress album, before reviving Pray, Never Forget, Back For Good and Relight My Fire. Awesome! However, predictably, Williams and Take That have subsequently decided to part company, once more.