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BrakesGive Blood Rough Trade/Shock My first thoughts were "Sixteen tracks! What a bargain!" - until I realised 'Give Blood' clocked in at under 30 minutes. Indeed, four tracks barely fulfill the iTunes 15 second intro setting. Vocalist/guitarist Eaton Hamilton (also of British Sea Power) describes the stunted tracks as "outbursts of opinion" with Cheney perhaps epitomising this in a 10 second shouting session about the US Vice President. I suppose Brakes can be described as punk-folk or alt-country, but those genres don't necessarily conjure up the most pleasant of thoughts. Brakes don't entirely break that cringeworthy mold, but they do make a decent run for the "enjoyable to listen to" end of the scale. Their cover of the Johnny Cash classic Jackson is done well with Leila Moss (The Duke Spirit) taking over Johnny's part while Hamilton assumes the role of June Carter, just to put a different slant on things. Then there's the first single, All Night Disco Party. Now, I'm a sucker for the often misused German prefix "uber", and with this in mind is it any wonder that I love ...Disco Party for its one line verse "non-stop, uber-rockin' disco party"? Add to that the sheer catchiness of the song and a video clip featuring penguins at a rave: call me cheap, but I'm sold. The album is fairly light hearted, the band treating issues that get their goat efficiently and succinctly in no more than 90 seconds. 'Give Blood' isn't amazing, but its charm lies in that it doesn't take itself too seriously and there's no pretentious subtext: it's just four lads from Brighton banging about and making music.  |
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