The Proclaimers: Dentures Out - Scottish duo still baring their teeth

Given the fact that they’re approaching 40 years in the music business, you can’t help but feel that the title of The Proclaimers’ new album is more than a little tongue-in-cheek. Still, Craig and Charlie Reid, now 60, clearly have plenty to say.

The title track is emblematic of the quasi-political manifesto for their 12th record, where Britain is the toothless hag. “Blame the jocks and blame the paddies,” they sing, “Blame the scourge of absent daddies/ Proof there is, if proof were needed/ That the right-wing press succeeded.”

Elsewhere, the concept of weaponising nostalgia for political gain mid-pandemic is tackled on The World That Was, while a media figure is given short shrift for their insistence on maintaining the status quo on Things As They Are. As scathing as their lyric sheet might be, the Reids remain steadfastly melodic, their voices intertwining with a comforting ease.

Manic Street Preachers frontman James Dean Bradfield plays guitar on two tracks; The Recent Past’s winsome indie bounce takes its cue from Belle & Sebastian, while the lapsteel guitar on lilting folk-led number Play the Man is simply gorgeous. The duo manage to temper the righteousness by weaving some personal moments into the tracklist, as heard on Signs of Love and Sundays by John Calvin. At just 34 minutes long, it’s the right length to make an impact without the risk of repeating itself.