Proclaimers show their softer side

CRAIG and Charlie Reid are a couple of old romantics at heart. The Scottish twin brothers – better known as The Proclaimers – have always had a soft side, but the pair who wrote anthems like I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) and Letter From America have stepped into ever more emotional territory with their latest album, Notes and Rhymes, and the single Love Can Move Mountains.

"It's the closest we have ever come to doing a power ballad," laughs Craig ahead of the band's show at Exeter this weekend. "It's a song about belief in the power of love to transform people's lives, to change things around for the better.

"It's about our experiences over the years of all kinds of love and the way it can give people strength where they had none; how it can stop them being embittered.

"The song has changed a lot since we wrote it acoustically. The producer slowed it right down, and that took it to another place."

The new record came together quickly, as Craig explains: "We came back from touring the previous album, took a couple of weeks off, then started writing this one.

"We're very proud of it. We put ourselves under a bit of pressure to get it done, and I think it's worked pretty well."

They demo-ed all the songs close to home in an Edinburgh studio before decamping to Rockfield Studios in Wales with producer Steve Evans.

After the album's release in June, Craig, Charlie and their band took to the road for a six-month world tour. Following a summer full of festivals, including their fourth Glastonbury appearance, they have recently returned from a coast-to-coast US road trip.

After their 24-date UK foray, the Reid brothers and company will embark on a month-long tour of Australia and New Zealand playing shows in vineyards. Life is sweet.

Born in Leith in 1962, Craig and Charlie grew up in Scotland, barring a two-year sojourn at Gwinear, near St Ives, from the age of eight. At home they listened to early rock 'n' roll and country greats like Jerry Lee Lewis, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams. They played in punk bands at school and formed The Proclaimers in 1983.

With a fervent live following growing in Scotland, particularly in Inverness, where they performed regularly, their first big break came late in 1986 when they were invited to tour with The Housemartins.

The twins' distinctive east coast accents became as much a part of their trademark as the infectious energetic folk-tinged pop tunes they write between them. Their strength has always been rooted in vocal performance alongside political fire, wit and singalong raucousness. While Charlie writes and performs on guitar, Craig writes songs on piano, but plays no instrument on stage.

"The only ambition we had was to keep off the dole and earn a living," Craig says. "Over the years we've had major and minor success, but we have learned to be relaxed and we enjoy it a lot more now."

As they head towards their half century, the brothers follow a sensible regime on the road.

"I love everything about touring – especially playing. I can be tiring at times and you miss home and family, but there can't be many better jobs," says Craig, who has four children. Charlie has three. "You can't do the rock and roll thing every night. We tend to watch TV and chill out after a show. Sleep is the single biggest thing that helps you to retain your sanity."

The brothers take a bit of exercise, try to eat well and always warm up their voices before a show.

"As you get older your voice gets a bit deeper, but we haven't had to drop any keys yet. We always do some deep breathing and sing about three songs in the dressing room before we go on stage."

The Proclaimers play at Exeter University's Great Hall on Sunday, October 18. For tickets call 01392 263518 or visit www.exeterboxoffice.com. Special guests for the Exeter show will be Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls of The Wonder Stuff.