Progressed (EP)

Background

Initially it was believed that Robbie Williams would rejoin Take That in a short term capacity for the album Progress which debuted at number 1 in the UK and achieved similar success across Europe, and the subsequent record breaking Progress Live tour. However, on 29 March 2011, Gary Barlow revealed that Take That had been looking into the possibility of creating new material as a five-piece by stating that "at the beginning we all said it was going to last for one album, but we're starting to write again" which Barlow suggested may result in a new release in the future. On 19 May 2011 Take That officially confirmed the upcoming release of Progressed, due for release on 13 June 2011 in the United Kingdom, following the release of its first single, "Love Love".

Critical reception

Progressed received positive reviews from music critics upon its release.

Simon Gage of The Express praised the new material and awarded it 5 stars stating that it is "essential listening" whilst commenting that "there has been a full-bodied love affair between Take That and the British public for so long it’s difficult to imagine them ever putting a foot wrong."

Nick Levine of BBC Music similarly reviewed the album positively, concluding that the collection is "a fine Progress-complementing EP from the 10-legged national treasure."

The Independent awarded Progressed 3 stars, calling the collection a "galumphing disco electropop whose swaggering synth riffs on 'Love Love' and occasional dubstep/electro moves, as on the intro to 'Man', are swept up by standard stomp-beats" whilst Q believed it was "a bold step to add to the biggest selling album of the year but one that ultimately pays off".

Gavin Martin of the Daily Mirror reviewed the new material positively, opining that "from the trad Barlow ballad setting of 'When We Were Young' through the evolutionary electro of 'Man', the new songs successfully extend the original album's balancing act between dignified nostalgia and commercially crafted experimentation."

Gordon Smart of The Sun remarked: "as a double album it hangs together very well" with the "bombast of 'Aliens' and the apocalyptic anthem of 'Man' welcome additions to the set list [of the tour]" and alongside "the tear jerking ballad, 'Don't Say Goodbye' there won't be a dry eye in the stadium."

Heat reviewed the album positively, summarising: "all in all, we have to say this album is utterly weird and wonderful and the perfect extension to Take That's defiant Progress album of 2010. Progressed is a winner in our book."

Lewis Corner of Digital Spy praised the new material and felt that "the self-penned collection proves once again why Take That's comeback was better than everyone else's – by out-growing the stereotypical boyband branding to become a group of credible and genuinely artistic group of musicians."

The Daily Mail awarded the collection 4 stars and said that as a revamp of Progress "the outcome is remarkably filler-free: Robbie sings lead on the nostalgic When We Were Young; the Muse-like stomp of Love Love is already in the man-band's live show; and producer Stuart Price brings a trademark electro-pop sheen to the brilliant Beautiful."

Track listing

Musicians

Production

Charts