Thank goodness for Stephen Duffy. Whereas Robbie's
previous collaborator Guy Chambers seemed all too willing to allow
Robbie to continue down a road that seemed that be turning him into
a parody of himself, Duffy is actually challenging Williams into
moving into new ground.
The electronic backdrop to Sin Sin Sin continues the slight
forays into musical esoterica demonstrated on his previous singles Radio and
Trippin', eschewing the meat and potatoes rock formula which had placed
Williams slap bang in the middle of the musical highway. There's still a bit of the usual self-pitying, but it's more understated than usual, and while the verses lack immediacy the power
chorus reels you back in and reminds you that both Williams and Duffy know
how to write a tune or two.
It's an adventurous step in the right direction. Not as instantly
catchy as, say, Let Me Entertain You, and this may perplex the housewife and
schoolgirl element of Robbie's fanbase, but then who cares? For someone already regarded by some as a national treasure, it is good to see
Williams pushing his horizons and progressing, instead of continuing
down the path that would surely have led to him singing
Angels ad infinitum at the end of Blackpool pier.