ROBBIE WILLIAMS
XXV
COLUMBIA
★★★★
The orchestral makeover trend has seen everyone from Peter Gabriel to Pete Tong and even Metallica giving their back catalogues a symphonic scrub-up, with mixed results. Now, marking 25 years of solo superstardom, it’s Robbie Williams’ turn to get some proper musicians in. But, rather than go with the usual London Symphony or Royal Philharmonic, Williams and his team – including long-time wingman Guy Chambers – have hooked up with Dutch jazz-pop ensemble Metropole Orkest. It’s an inspired move that feels akin to a meeting of musical like-minds, as opposed to a bunch of players slumming it between Rachmaninovs.