Vince Leigh’s Single Review: Ladder To The Moon by The Burbs
By Vince Leigh (Ex drummer of Pseudo Echo, Tina Arena and John Farnham) of Australian Radio Promotion for Sheldon Ang Media
From the surf-soaked shores of the Geelong rock scene, The Burbs have been grinding out their craft since 2016. Known for their energetic sold-out shows, these guys mix pop melodies with dark, introspective lyrics, creating a nostalgia so thick it sticks to your soul like old vinyl dust. 2024 is the year The Burbs took a massive leap forward. Their 12-track demo album, Sunlight Spills Across The Swimming Pool, marks a pivotal moment in their journey.
Now, they’ve dropped Ladder To The Moon, a soft-rock ballad that drips with metaphor and emotion, wrapped in folk-flavoured guitars that manage to sound vaguely familiar yet and surprisingly modern. The song kicks off with a vocal sample that glides into an acoustic guitar progression. The first chorus pulls you in with a mix of classic rock and folk vibes. As the track unfolds, a psychedelic rock sheen emerges, woven with delicate indie folk strands. A musical interlude loaded with vocal harmonies and melancholic chords adds layers of depth, leading to a final chorus that seamlessly transitions into an outro. Ladder To The Moon is a meditation on dreams and the relentless march of time. ‘Built a ladder to the moon, hope you made it come back soon,’ captures that wistful longing for dreams to return untainted. ‘Later the school made you a plaque, gave the line but missed the mark,’ highlights the shallow recognition often given to real efforts.
These lyrics, fused with the music, create a cohesive whole, reflecting an authentic pulse in the band’s writing skills. The Burbs do a great job of blending diverse musical elements into a stream-lined and emotionally potent track. Ladder To The Moon also showcases their dynamic range, shifting from stripped-back lo-fi acoustic moments to a more expansive band sound. They’ve got the depth and versatility to pull it off. With new stage dates on the horizon, The Burbs are gearing up to bring Ladder To The Moon to live audiences. This single not only solidifies their emergence in the Australian contemporary rock scene but also teases even bigger things to come.
