Brakes – ‘Hold Me In The River’ (Rough Trade) Released 04/12/06

In order to be remembered, songs that weigh in around the two minute mark need to pack some sort of a punch to last the distance. Brakes' new single, ‘Hold Me In The River,’ certainly enters the ring all guns blazing, with trashing guitars flailing around like a blindfolded Frank Bruno’s right hook. While muted, yet urgent sounding guitars build a good sense of anticipation; it’s soon lost when what materialises is a lacklustre bashing of instruments which are more catfight than dogfight. While the defiant lyrics, delivered with Eamon Hamilton’s usual country twang, are quite endearing, “I woke up late and found my liberty lost/ It had been written down in law as a security cost,” you’ll still be standing once the two minute round is over.