FRESH.

It's been a busy year for Brighton quartet Brakes. In summer they played in Texas at the mother of all alternative festivals, South By South West.

They'd barely touched British soil when a Nashville studio, graced by Elvis himself, brought the band back across the Atlantic.

The eccentric alt-rockers have even managed to squeeze in a tour with The Killers, which will bring them to Manchester Apollo on November 20. After that, they plan to headline their own show at Leeds Cockpit on December 2.

You'd think singer and guitarist Eamon Hamilton would be exhausted but he sounds energetic and cheerful on the phone from his home town.

Brakes formed, in part, as a reaction to what their website describes as (deep breath) "an anaemic music scene, littered with the corpses of impotent, underfed, lank-haired, unapologetically derivative, skinny-jeaned, indie-rock no-marks vomiting punk cliches."

Eamon says: "You form a band when you don't hear what you want. Most bands out at the moment are sh*t. They're fame and celebrity-obsessed when they should be obsessed with music."

In a world rife with such apathy Brakes are surprisingly fresh. They're angry but their outlook is positive.

From the pin-in-the-eye thrash of 'Porcupine or Pineapple' to the punk-funk parody of 'All Night Disco Party', Brakes' sound is as quirky and invigorating as it is jolting.

The name 'Brakes' comes from an unusual source.

Eamon explains: "There's this steep hill in Brighton and a friend of mine saw this guy on a bike racing down the hill screaming: 'I've got no brakes!' "

Apparently the kid in question managed to escape with both legs intact.

Brakes' inspiration comes from a broad spectrum of subjects including country walks, birds, parking signs, Dick Cheney and the Old Testament.

Eamon says: "I read the Old Testament recently. It was pretty boring. God in that is a total psycho! I found that quite funny."

Brakes' new album The Beatific Vision - released on Rough Trade - was recorded at House of David studios, frequented by The King himself. Pianist David Briggs, who played in Elvis' band between 1968 and 1977, even laid down a track for $10.

Eamon says: "It was amazing. He hadn't played on record before. We were really well treated."

Asked about Brakes' forthcoming tour with 2006's biggest band - The Killers - Eamon is a mixture of anticipation and nonchalance.

Eamon adds: "I'm not daunted to be on tour with The Killers. They're great guys. We're looking forward to stealing their audience!"