Warm Brains - Old Volcanoes

Rory Attwell may not be instantly recognisable to people in 2011, but he’s been a constant figure in the background of UK indie rock for years now. A member of fondly remembered and much missed noise punk trio Test Icicles, Attwell has spent the time following their demise establishing himself as a sought after underground producer under the guise of ‘Brattwell’, while also being a member of Kasms. It may have taken six years, but now Attwell has finally struck out on his own with the release of his first solo record.

Entirely written and produced by Attwell, ‘Old Volcanoes’ is very much an indie rock record but there are enough strange sounds and off kilter melodies here to ensure the album never drifts off into generic guitar mediocrity. While rather traditional in terms of style and sound, there are some genuinely thrilling moments scattered throughout. Opening track ‘Worried Seed’ establishes the strong strident sound of the record, full of vigour, distorted guitars and relentless drums. It all makes for a strange sound that appears to be lo-fi underground rock, but manages to be immensely powerful.

‘Let Down’ and ‘Marble Arch’ are glorious rushes of indie pop coated in coruscating guitar and rumbling drums, featuring vocals from Florence Van Camerijk from Paradise, these songs form the heart of a record that contains a clear pop sensibility while focusing on the noisy and oblique for the most part. There is even Attwell’s idea of a love song with the aptly titled ‘Weird Eyes’ in which he croons about ‘All the sentimental bullshit in my mind’ - how romantic.

Despite some questionable vocal performances - notably on the sparser ‘Drunk Drivers’ and ‘Stone To Sand To Glass’ - ‘Old Volcanoes’ remains a gloriously exciting noise pop record from a man who has spent far too long lurking in the shadows of indie rock. It is abundantly clear from the exciting sound and production that Rory Attwell is a brilliantly creative musician; let’s hope this is only the start for Warm Brains.