Carbs – Joyous Material Failure

Newly formed collaboration Carbs sees Jonnie (Common) and James (Conquering Animal Sound) come together to celebrate the daily disappointments of modern life. Chronicling the highs and lows of pizza comfort binges, how Margaret Thatcher helped ruin ice cream, and the supposed ease of learning Kung Fu from action film slow-mo, all over a pallet of weird-ass collected sounds, Joyous Material Failure is rooted in pop culture and cemented with sticky, slouchy electronica.

Each track is founded upon the sound of faulty machine or accidental mechanical breakdown, and there’s a dizzying, off-kilter spin to what could be otherwise-familiar constructs. The duo’s deconstruction of instagram-era insecurities results in some genuine belly laughs, but sometimes veers dangerously close to 'chillaxing on my trike' territory pre-trodden by Nathan Barley et al. Julian Barratt would probably celebrate their acerbic, pun-laden incisions, but Carbs tread an intentionally wobbly line between taking the piss, and piss-take. This energy makes for a slightly awkward home listen, but will no doubt translate brilliantly live. Carbs' anxiety-sprinkled Mr Whippy is best enjoyed with pals. [Katie Hawthorne]