God, I really wonder sometimes about the staff at major record labels. The Duke Spirit are a cracking band, having garnered good press for their debut LP Cuts Across The Land, yet some wise arse has decided to get the title track from the LP remixed by Michael Brauer.

Brauer has recorded and mixed the likes of Coldplay, Simon And Garfunkel, Athlete and The Rolling Stones (unfortunately not the The Rolling Stones of Let It Bleed but of the dogs breakfast that was Steel Wheels). Not the first choice then to add something different to a cutting edge underground rock band. It's like getting Rolph Harris to add the finishing touches to a Damien Hirst art installation.

The album mix and the remix are both included on the single. They provide interesting contrasts: Brauer has managed to strip out the fire, passion and pace of the original. The guitars are turned down, the bass is tightened up and the, ahem, spirit is lost. The Duke Spirit are never going to crossover and storm the upper reaches of the charts - they are too arty, too clever and far too loud. These are all good things. By attempting to turn them into some sort of indie Avril Lavigne the record company have wasted their cash and everybody's time. Polydor's money would have been better spent giving an unsigned band some demo time.