Robbie Williams’ Britpop review: Why has he made this? And how is it actually great?

In fact the record reaches a climax with a song called It’s OK Until the Drugs Stop Working. This is more of a 60s orchestral ballad – “The look of love becomes the beast of burden” etc. – which comes off like sub-Scott Walker but is actually closer to Serge Gainsbourg. In fact, isn’t that what Robbie Williams is? Britain’s Serge Gainsbourg, a loveable ‘wrong ‘un’, an eccentric who says something about our national identity. Britpop was always a delusionary thing, one big nothing, a media term which every single band from that era disowned. Well, actually it was Williams who was closest to it then and he’s grabbed it properly for himself now. He embodies Britpop, a pop star who represents the true fucked-up, weirdo, funny, odd, mongrel, friendly, slightly crap but always entertaining Britain. As he puts it: “A wise once said use your delusions/I’d like to point out that man was me.’ Robbie for PM anyone?