Photo by Alex Potton
Northampton duo Fountain return with intent on ‘It’s Ordinary’, a raw, tightly wound blast of garage rock that proves there is very little ordinary about the chemistry between guitarist/vocalist Jordan Noon and drummer Alistair Wilkinson. Arriving August 28th as the first in a forthcoming run of singles, the track captures the visceral energy of the band’s live performances while pointing towards an increasingly confident next chapter.
Since forming in 2023, Fountain have built their identity around the possibilities and limitations of being a two-piece. Without unnecessary layers to hide behind, everything depends on the interaction between guitar, drums and voice. On ‘It’s Ordinary’, that stripped-back approach once again works firmly in their favour.
Produced by Lee Russell, the track hits with an appealing immediacy. Noon’s crunching guitar tones provide both weight and texture, while Wilkinson’s relentless drumming gives the song its forward momentum. There is grit throughout the production, but crucially, the duo never allow rawness to become an excuse for shapelessness. Beneath the distortion sits a strong melodic instinct and an understanding of when to let a hook cut through the noise.
That balance has become one of Fountain’s most compelling qualities. Their garage-rock foundations are clear, with echoes of OSEES, Queens of the Stone Age and The Black Keys emerging through the muscular guitar work and restless rhythms. Yet there is also something more expansive lurking beneath the surface.
The influence of Ennio Morricone and Duane Eddy might initially seem unexpected alongside the band’s heavier reference points, but it helps explain the sense of atmosphere running through their music. Fountain aren’t simply interested in making loud two-piece rock. There is a cinematic quality to their guitar textures that adds space and character to the aggression, suggesting a duo with ambitions extending beyond the traditional garage-rock template.
‘It’s Ordinary’ thrives particularly on that contrast. It is immediate enough to make an impact on first listen, but textured enough to reward returning to it. Noon’s distinctive vocal delivery brings personality and unpredictability, sitting naturally against guitar tones that shift between abrasive force and melodic purpose.
Wilkinson, meanwhile, gives the track its backbone. In a duo, the drums have nowhere to disappear, and his playing takes full advantage of that exposure. Precise without sounding clinical, the performance maintains the looseness and physicality needed to make the recording feel like two musicians responding to one another rather than separate parts assembled in a studio.
That live quality is important to Fountain. The pair have developed a reputation for high-energy performances, including a headline appearance at Les Expressifs, and ‘It’s Ordinary’ feels constructed to retain that sense of spontaneity. There is an appealing lack of excess; every element has a clear purpose, allowing the duo’s chemistry to remain at the centre.
There is a subtle confidence in the way ‘It’s Ordinary’ pushes forward without abandoning what made Fountain interesting in the first place. The guitars still bite, the drums still hit with physical force and the production retains its rough edges. Yet everything feels increasingly focused.
As the opening statement in a new run of releases, that makes ‘It’s Ordinary’ an effective reminder of just how much noise, atmosphere and personality Fountain can generate with only two people. Raw without being primitive, melodic without sanding away its edges and cinematic without becoming overblown, the single finds the Northampton pair sharpening their identity while keeping the volatility that makes garage rock exciting in the first place.
