In the aftermath of a devastating apartment fire, the Vermont rock band Robber Robber transformed their personal crisis into a powerful artistic statement with their second album, "Two Wheels Move the Soul." This record delves into the profound emotional and physical upheaval experienced by the band members, who were displaced after their home was severely damaged. The album masterfully weaves together themes of chaos, resilience, and the desperate yearning for normalcy, all while pushing the boundaries of their distinct rock sound.
The narrative of "Two Wheels Move the Soul" is deeply rooted in a harrowing event. A few weeks prior to commencing work on the album, a fire engulfed the band's apartment complex in Burlington, Vermont. While their specific unit miraculously remained intact, the building was ultimately condemned, forcing the members of Robber Robber into a period of nomadic living, couch-surfing at friends' and fellow artists' homes, before finding temporary refuge in an unused attic. This traumatic experience became the unexpected catalyst for their creative process, allowing them to channel their raw emotions and observations into their music.
The album's opening track, "The Sound It Made," immediately immerses the listener in the frenetic energy of the fire. The drumming, characterized by its shifting and insistent patterns, evokes the sensation of a racing heartbeat, while the bassline creates a visceral, slow-motion descent, mirroring the shock of a sudden, horrible realization. Lead singer-guitarist Nina Cates' lyrics, described as a "collection collage," draw from a mosaic of memories and journal entries penned during the tumultuous period following the fire. These seemingly disconnected observations, touching upon weather patterns and human behavior, are interspersed with an array of seemingly random elements—from sports radio snippets to a takeout bag adorned with a smiley face—all of which converge to underscore the central theme of pervasive disorder. Cates' repeated refrain, "I don't wanna get stuck like this," poignantly encapsulates the universal desire for routine and stability in the face of uncontrollable events.
"Two Wheels Move the Soul" does not offer a literal recounting of the fire or a melodramatic portrayal of the subsequent months of uncertainty. Instead, Robber Robber employs subtle and evocative allusions, exploring the importance of support systems, the pervasive presence of debris and squalor, and the unyielding human need for a sense of permanence. The album delves into how socio-economic factors and community ties shape the experience of displacement. The profound gratitude for simply having a place to rest often coexists with the gnawing loneliness of a transient existence. This is particularly salient in Vermont, a state grappling with stark wealth disparities, where long-standing working-class families stand in contrast to newer residents seeking an idealized rural life amid a worsening homelessness crisis. Cates' deliberately fragmented lyrical style skillfully captures the apprehension, despair, and eventual resigned acceptance that resonate deeply with many local residents.
On tracks like "Pieces," Robber Robber grapples with the arduous process of adapting to a life that feels fundamentally shattered. Guitarist Will Krulak's psych-rock inflected lines cut through the verses like a searching flashlight in tentative hands, before collapsing into a cacophony of noise rock in the chorus. Cates' vocals, proclaiming, "There isn't light to see/We'll navigate by touch," perfectly encapsulate the struggle to find direction in darkness. The dissonant opening of "Avalanche Sound Effect" escalates into a maelstrom by its midpoint, with intertwining guitar melodies reminiscent of later works by bands such as Palm. Cates' ethereal falsettos float above the sonic landscape, offering a sense of guidance, even as she grapples with the distortion of time. Robber Robber's ability to fuse disparate musical textures, such as the jazz-inflected drumming and fuzzy bassline of "Watch for Infection," creates a disorienting effect, akin to a heightened awareness during a medical procedure, where every sound is amplified and unsettling.
For this latest endeavor, Robber Robber reconnected with Benny Yurco, the audio engineer who previously contributed to their debut album, "Wild Guess." This time, Yurco's studio transcended its role as a mere workspace, evolving into a sanctuary where creativity could flourish in an intimate setting—a rare luxury for the band at that time. The familiarity and comfort of the space provided a much-needed sense of home. While their debut was characterized by its raw power and insistent hooks, "Two Wheels Move the Soul" inverts this approach, transforming abrasive sonic elements into something soft and consoling. The band takes searing guitar chords and the low rumble of shoegaze feedback, recontextualizing them as sonic weighted blankets that offer solace. The album maintains a consistent level of sonic intensity, yet Robber Robber demonstrates an astute mastery in navigating this auditory landscape, orchestrating a meticulously controlled inferno of sound.