Take That - Love Love

I'll admit, I had my initial worries with Love Love - and they were two-fold. Firstly, I was a little disappointed to see the brilliant Happy Now glossed over so quickly, instead of it receiving the full attention and exposure it deserves. But then again, in an increasingly digital world - single releases like that become ever more a reality.

Secondly, on first hearing, Love Love felt just that bit too similar to previous single Kidz. That same marching-band stomp, that same threatening buzz of electronics. But on seeing the track accompanied by its video - all eerie neon glow and the band standing around what looks like a mis-shapen heap of metal off-cuts - the glorious sci-fi swagger of the track hit me.

In a way, the Kidz comparisons aren't a bad thing, chiefly because Kidz was an amazing record. And whereas it was cold, menacing and affected with a dictatorial chill; Love Love is very much the flip side - the same sounds, but this time channelled into a force for positivity and good. The chorus of 'why don't you teach your heart to talk' captures that essence Take That have always managed to strike so sweetly - singing about love with real passion, but never tipping over into that pit of overly-sentimental guff.

It's all suitably epic fare, of the sort Take That always do so well. There's even a hint of Pet Shop Boys Go West anthemic-ness to it all, the kind of rousing tune that is simply made for stadiums. Fitting then that it's this month that sees the TT boys taking to their mind-bogglingly immense UK tour, with those very same Pet Shop Boys in tow.

X Men - First Class is the movie this track accompanies (and a bloody good one it is too - I saw the film earlier this week and had a thoroughly enjoyable time watching it - a real classic bit of big-budget Hollywood action) - and while it didn't seem so at first, this is most definitely another first class track for Take That.

Take That - Happy Now

Kicking off with a trippy electronica intro that could have come straight off the latest glossy TV ad, Take That's Happy Now quickly slaps a big dollop of vocodered Robbie Williams in your lap as he whispers about 'super-heavy elements'. Is this a chemistry lesson or a pop single?

But then comes the chorus, so glorious and joyous in every extreme, you're left speechless at the marvelous duality of the track. Cold, wintery verses and then explosive choruses of spring-like energy. Compared to the epic power of The Flood and the electro-stomp of Kidz, Happy Now in a way represents the most traditionally 'pop' record off the new Take That album. Yes, the chorus really is that good. It's a slice of unashamed euro-disco that you just don't get enough of anymore.

Take That's move to a more electronic-influenced sound has certainly divided opinion, but for me, when it has resulted in such a brilliant run of singles as this you can't fault the boys. That is if this does indeed become the third single from the album (which I sincerely hope it does). Imagine the Take That boys performing this live at Wembley Stadium... that chorus is simply a pure arms aloft moment, the pleasures of pop music distilled into that one perfect moment. That's what it's all about.

Video: Take That - Kidz

I love it when music videos just get it SO right. Where the video just fits the track SO well. Take That's Kidz does just that. I mean, just how amazing is a Take That space-ship coming down and landing in a city?! Very amazing.

Now, to be fair, I definitely prefer Girls Aloud's take on the whole 'futuristic popstars invade the Earth' thing when they did their Untouchable video, but Take That definitely come a very well deserved second.

What are the best bits of the video? Well, for starters, the band's costumes are just so fantastical and steam-punk - very befitting a band that is the epitome of old mixed with new. They're almost scary - Gary Barlow in all his military finest, Robbie with a chain-mail vest and Mark Owen looking like he's stepped off the set of the BBC's Merlin with that hooded robe and staff of his.

Oh, and there's lots of soldiers thrown in. And in our age of Spooks and Call of Duty, stuff like that always adds a bit of excitement to things.

'Welcome to the future of the world...' goes the song. If the future is as exciting as this video makes out, I want more.

BRITs highlight - Take That perform Kidz live

Going on gut feeling, Take That's brilliant performance of Kidz was one of the best moments of the night. What a way to open the show! Loved the whole future distopia theme with all the riot police and the boys dressed up as stern dictator types. It fitted the harsh stomp-stomp of the track perfectly and those swooping camera angles really gave the performance that added sense of gravitas.

When I turn on to watch the BRITs, I want to see moments like this - something epic, something amazing; something that really marks this out as THE biggest night in the British music calendar.

Take That - Kidz

Ever since Take That 'returned', I've been longing for them to return to the sound of their dance-pop roots; the music that made them such a big success in the early 90s. And with Kidz, the second single from their Progress album, they finally do.

Except, now they're even better than before. Gone are the acid-house piano riffs and drum machine, replaced by a hard industrial beat, crunching guitar power chords and buzz-saw synths. It's almost Nine Inch Nails.

It's also a brilliant chance for Mark Owen to shine. I've always been a fan of Mark's vocals and their David Bowie-esque lilt (his solo track Four Minute Warning is a much over-looked pop gem of a song). Kidz, with its minimal, stark verses and crystaline, epic choruses really is a 'progress' for the band - their big, Barlow-penned soft-rock ballads are all very well and good, in many cases even amazing - but this is a new side of Take That. It's fun, risque, daring and above all, very exciting.

Kidz is released 21st February.