Carb on Carb, New Zealand’s resident tour-dog emo-duo, have released their single ‘Annual Leave‘ from their second album, ‘For Ages‘ on Sydney label Black Wire Records.
‘For Ages‘ was released in May, reaching #11 on the NZ Artist Album Top 40.
‘Annual Leave‘ is a song about full-time work and traditional expectations alienating people from what they used to hold dear. Over a soaring chorus, the line “all the things you wanted to be, buried under a 40-hour work week” confronts the listener, while “maybe see you at the next anniversary” summarises the dissolving friendships of late-20s life. The song benefits from the glistening production of mix engineer Chris Teti (The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die), seamlessly transitioning from stripped back verses to ecstatic choruses.
Carb on Carb have a reputation for being tour dogs. Tonally, the album echoes the many intimate community spaces the band have played throughout the world; basements, living rooms and DIY venues. They have made several runs across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the US, headlining DIY festivals No Front Fences and SAD By, as well as support tours with The Hotelier and Joyce Manor. Catch them this week in Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.
July will see them add 3 extra shows to their album release tour in Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra. Dates below.
Working with emo heavyweight mix engineer Chris Teti (The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die), Nicole Gaffney (vocals, guitar) and James Stutely (drums) have crafted a cohesive, heart-on-sleeve record. Nicole draws vocal inspiration from varied sources, with melodies and delivery that encompass the passion of emo and the powerful softness of RnB. Backed by her alternate-tuning full-strum guitar style, and James‘ distinctive drumming, the result is altogether energetic and memorable. The album was recorded by Dylan Adams at his Coogee Beach studio in Sydney and mastered by Dan Coutant in New York.
Across 10 tracks the band explores many common preoccupations, with humour but also heart, as song titles like ‘Fake Meat/Real Friends‘ suggest. They examine resilience, what home is when you’re constantly moving, what teenage dreams mean in your mid-twenties, competing work and life pressures, and the personal as political. Crushing album closer ‘Mitimiti‘ is a love letter of sorts to both New Zealand and friendship, ending with the simple but heartfelt “giving me a chance/to learn who you are/people who mean the most.” Through the course of for ages these threads are drawn together into the concept of continual coming of age as an inspiring way to constantly redefine yourself.
Sort out a copy of the album now [Here].
CARB ON CARB
JULY
5th – Mount, Brisbane [AA]
13th – Betty’s Espresso, Brisbane [18+]
14th – Red Rattler, Marrickville [AA]
18th – The Phoenix, Canberra [18+]
