Burr Island - “Towers”

UK-based Burr Island have just released the gorgeously stripped-back indie-folk track “Towers.”

The song begins with warm, acoustic fingerpicking, which gives a mellow, weaving foundation to the track, reminiscent of the work of Nick Drake. The track’s stripped-back nature allows focus to be drawn to the gentle vocals and poetic lyrics. Just past the midway point of this song, Burr Island give us an unexpected, contrasting treat. The song suddenly bursts into a distinctively playful, retro stride. “Towers” permeates the 1960s with arpeggiating, clean electric guitar lines and a swaggering percussive groove.

With a feel that is reminiscent of The Beach Boys‘ “Smiley Smile,” the track dies back to the acoustic fingerpicked guitar as the song draws to a close. The vocals on this song are simply a delight. The performance makes me want to reach for a comparison to The Mamas and the Papas, especially when the great harmonizing layers are in full swing.  

Burr Island describe the meaning behind the haunting lyrics as imagining a society where money could be spent enhancing peoples lives, a world where people could live happy and without want... Where love, nature and spiritual development is the focus rather than wealth and position in society. Burr Island have delivered a really gorgeous track with “Towers.” The song is intimate and reflective, with a great, melodic twist.

And after you’ve filled your soul with “Towers,” infuse your heart and mind with the angelic sounds of “English Roses,” a previous release from Burr Island. The song is acoustic folk at its very finest, offering another raw and stripped-back arrangement, complete with vocal harmonies that are reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel. The use of piano rounds out the production, and this one will make a grand addition to any playlist utilized for those deep moments of introspection, one of our favorite places to visit.

-John Michie