Carb on Carb is an Auckland duo who have been around for a few years now.
They bring a fresh and easy approach to indie rock and have emerged with a new single, Grounded, from their forthcoming album, due out later this year, and soon to be followed by a nationwide tour.
Refreshingly uplifting, Grounded has some great melody and range from vocalist and guitarist, Nicole Gaffney. While her range remains even throughout, the slight change in tempo vocally here and there is just enough to give the song some edge and pace.
You can tell Carb on Carb are a band that don’t take themselves too seriously. How can you anyway with an eye catching band name like that. They’re having fun and clearly have passion for creating music.
Grounded is a song that is multi-faceted. It can either be a part of the background in a late summer, drink in hand on Sunday vibe, or Sunday morning, coffee in hand vibe. However you hear it, Carb on Carb have crafted a great single that they should be proud it and shows their well curated musicianship.
While some indie rock can sometimes come across as generic and flat, Carb on Carb have a different approach with that edge they create. They wear it well.
I look forward to their forthcoming album and what else comes out of the works from it.
Carb on Carb are a product of many places. In the band’s lifetime they have been based in 4 cities and played in at least 70. The band's first and self-titled album (2015) was “noisy and heartfelt, bridging the gap between 1990's emo bands like Rainer Maria and current counterparts like Waxahatchee” (Mess + Noise).
Relentless touring won over fans across Australasia and the band temporarily relocated to Australia in 2017. This time away drew the band’s focus back to home with their celebrated second album For Ages (2018); an extended love letter to NZ, with “soaring vocals, a guitar tone warm as a woollen blanket, mathy lead bits, ever changing dynamics and crash cymbals that wash over you like the ocean...as good an emo release as you will hear anywhere this year” (4ZZZ).
After few years back in Aotearoa and the inevitable covid-delay factor, their third and final album Take Time was released in early 2024; "a cathartic and strangely calming experience. I can’t really think of many albums that tackle the topic of time and aging with such fun, irreverence and heartfelt emotion. Take Time is a collection of powerful songs, performed beautifully and written with absolute honesty. It’s what albums should be – an expression of the artist without filter” (Muzic.net.nz).