/Rock-Pop/British / European
/Rock-Pop/Rough Trade Records

BRAKES
the beatific visions

Release Date: 13/11/2006

it's high time for brakes 2, so, on an invitation from seth riddle (husband of cerys matthews) they flew to nashville, tennessee to record with stuart sikes (cat power: 'the greatest', white stripes: 'red blood cells'...). after a few days catching fireflys; drinking 45 ounce margheritas; swapping guitar licks and rocking on rocking chairs on various porches, they got to work at the house of david studio, where records have been made by the likes of jj cale, yo la tengo and elvis presley. they recruited a few extra pairs of hands in the shape of local axe hombre kevin teel (lapsteel) and the man of 'the house' himself, mr david briggs (piano). david was an original muscle shoals band member and went on to play piano with elvis between '68 and '77. brakes asked him to lay down some 'ragtime' piano on 'if i should die tonight' offering him $10. "well, that was worth 50c." he said. they squeezed in gigs at the legendary record shop 'grimeys' and its sister venue the basement in between sessions, and were greeted by nashville with hollers, whoops and screams. if you loved 'give blood' then 'the beatific visions' is just as essential. the songs are short, sweet and demand repeat listens. they range from the ridiculous ('porcupine or pineapple?') to straight up country ('if i should die tonight' and 'on your side') to full steam ahead early buzzcocks / wire-esque post- punk rock ('margherita' and 'beatific visions'). we love the brakes here at rough trade shop and you should to.