Released: September 9
Robbie Williams recruits the Metropole Orkest to breathe new life into his biggest tracks and best-loved recordings across his ‘XXV’ orchestral greatest hits collection.
Celebrating 25 years as a solo artist, the collection features 18 reworkings of cuts from the former Take That star’s complete discography, ranging from one of his earliest solo releases Angels through to Love My Life, along with the brand new number Lost.
Opening with Robbie’s signature hit Let Me Entertain You, the impact of the orchestra is instant, with The Netherlands collective elevating the tracks to new heights, with a live instrumentation that soars while breathing new life into the material. It’s a natural fit for the drama of the first track, but one that adapts throughout the set depending on the varying musical styles and lyrical themes on offer.
For example, 2010 cut Candy is reborn with a swing edge, while underrated gems like Tripping get a chance to shine. The effect is similar on classics such as the massive ballad Feel, with the new recordings highlighting the timelessness of the songs.
Also featured on ‘XXV’ is Robbie’s first UK solo No. 1, the jubilant Millennium, the Top 10 hits Strong and No Regrets, and his second solo UK chart-topper, She’s The One – all released on his 1998 album, ‘I’ve Been Expecting You’.
Although celebrating his latest milestone, the compilation doesn’t quite stretch the span of Robbie’s solo output, with his first two No. 2 hits – Freedom and Old Before I Die missing, along with other choice omissions including the No. 1 singles Somethin’ Stupid and Radio.
With Kylie Minogue drafted in to re-record vocals for a new rendition of Kids, its also surprising that Robbie chose not to reunite with former bandmate Gary Barlow on a fresh re-recording of 2010’s Shame. However, as he himself says, ‘XXV’ is less about his biggest commercial successes and more the moments from his career that he’s most proud of.
“I’m so excited to announce my new album ‘XXV’ which celebrates many of my favourite songs from the past 25 years,” says the musician. “Each track has a special place in my heart so it was a real thrill to record them again with the Metropole Orkest. Can’t wait for you all to hear it.”
That’s evident from a closer look at the tracklist; closing the LP is album cut Nobody Someday, which originally appeared as the B-side to Feel, while up in the opening trio of songs is Love My Life, the second single from Robbie’s 2016 long-player ‘The Heavy Entertainment Show’ that stalled at No. 22 in the charts. However, both have personal significance – particularly the latter, which was written as a message of positivity to his children in light of the challenges that Robbie faced throughout his own youth.
While many orchestral albums drastically reinterpret the material, Robbie’s originals fare well as orchestral recordings and maintain the essence of the originals, and what stands out most of all is his powerful vocals on each track, which after three decades in the industry remain in fine form.
Both the standard and deluxe albums feature the brand new track Lost – a moving song in classic Robbie style with poignant lyrics, piano elements and soaring strings – while a deluxe album includes three more original tracks: Disco Symphony, More Than This, and The World And Her Mother.
The new material is the cherry on an already impressive set, particularly in light of the six year wait since Robbie released his most recent non-festive album back in 2016.
In the era of streaming, the concept of a greatest hits album is becoming increasingly obsolete, with fans demanding more creative approaches to the classic format that warrant their attention. So while orchestral rerecordings seem to be the avenue of choice right now, for Robbie it’s a path paved with gold that marries his classic sound with nuances found in his swing repertoire, celebrating the past 25 years and opening the door to the next era in his career.
‘XXV’ is available now.
