In a move that seems more obvious the more one thinks about it, the music of Craig and Charlie Reid is being turned into a film this year. Sunshine On Leith (sharing its title with their 1988 album) started out as a modest stage musical touring Scotland, its script lovingly woven around a collection of what famous fan David Tennant calls “big-hearted, uncynical, passionate songs”.
Like Comedy is more of the same, perhaps not packing as big an emotional punch as the brothers’ late 80s calling cards, but the passing of time hasn’t dimmed their ability to cradle our hearts with well-chosen chords, sweet fraternal harmonies, or beautifully direct lyrics. There are few declarations of love as perfect and as simple as Spinning Around In The Air’s “If I could sing I would sing you a song in Sam Cooke’s voice.”
Structurally, The Proclaimers’ best songs continue to borrow from classic pop and country; instantly memorable paeans to affairs of the heart both serious (After You’re Gone, The Thought Of You) and full of wit (Women And Wine). They’re not going to change the world, but they make the one we’ve got a better place to be.
