The Butterfly Graveyard – Setting Sun (2025)
As delicate and fragile as a butterfly wing, but with the complexity and ruggedness of a rural graveyard, singer-songwriter The Butterfly Graveyard weaves an intricate blend of fragility and sturdiness in his music. We came across the Irish artist last year with his dream-pop-laden single ‘Barcelona’, but this was merely one facet of the complex musician. Pushing the boundaries of conformity, The Butterfly Graveyard’s music blurs lines between indie-pop, indie-rock, synth-pop, and alternative pop, veiled by an avant-garde sheet. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Setting Sun’.
Following the well-received singles ‘Underdog’ and ‘Barcelona’, The Butterfly Graveyard shows another facet of his personality in ‘Setting Sun’. Stepping away from the hard-hitting, upbeat rock tinges of ‘Underdog’, ‘Setting Sun’ is a luxurious blend of soul and classic rock with haunting orchestral accompaniment. Bold drums pulsate in the background, as soaring guitars bring vintage rock sounds, and the keyboards shimmer along, but it is the strings that add a unique flair to the track.
Melodically, the tune is intriguing oscillating between clarity and obscurity in its instrumentation, but I find the vocals one of the more defining features. Soft, smooth and luxurious, the soulful tones embrace listeners in a comfortable hug. You feel warm, welcome and loved with ‘Setting Sun’; however, there is a juxtaposition between mellifluous music and provocative lyricism. The Butterfly Graveyard explains:
“’Setting Sun’ is a song about making the most of the time we are given… the song is a rallying call to protect the Earth in this so-called Gold Age of drilling. It’s about we as a collective, trying to get things done before the human race runs out of road and the sun sets on the Earth for the very last time.”
Sincere, sentimental and languid, but wrapped in a brash dose of reality, ‘Setting Sun’ is an interesting symphony. If this is the entry to 2025, I cannot wait for more from The Butterfly Graveyard.
Find out more about The Butterfly Graveyard on his Spotify.
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