IF YOU like your political criticism spouted by mouthy Mancunians over a psychedelic pop/hip-hop backing track, then it appears Shaun Ryder et al have a pleasant surprise for you.

Black Grape's first new music in 20 years is a throwback to the nineties and bang up to date, with Ryder's gutter poetry taking on substance abuse, capitalism and Donald Trump in the way only he can.

Opening track Everything You Know Is Wrong - Intro is the kind of political discourse heard at last orders in an inner-city working men's club after everyone's had their fill. Not that it's any less entertaining (or accurate), for it, with Ryder's aim at the tiny-handed narcissist rarely missing its mark. Even if some of the insults are a little immature, they're no worse than those churned out by lazy comedy hacks on panel shows and Twitter.

The excellent Nine Lives appears to be Ryder's acknowledgement that he's lucky to be around and still making mistakes, with a Lalo Schifrin-style guitar and 1970s horns, while Money Burns continues the brilliant, laid-back seventies vibe with nineties Manchester lechery dolloped on top.

Throughout, there's a sharpness to the music and the lyrics, but they're undercut by the sloppiness of Ryder's trademark vocal delivery - think of it as a Michelin-Star meal covered in chip shop gravy, and you're somewhere close.

String Theory is vaguely reminiscent of a Rolling Stones beat and riff with crude, funny lyrics and feels most like the best of the old-school Black Grape, while Shame is either a direct homage to the Fames by both Irene Cara ("I'm gonna die forever"), and David Bowie (the riff and a breakdown), with Kermit given more to do but with Ryder namechecking drugs, minor crimes and cynical insults throughout.

Honestly, I approached this album with concern, fully expecting 50 minutes of nostalgic garbage, but it was a genuinely pleasant surprise.