Rock/Review Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends - The Crow
Emerging from Swedish band Redmoon, the solo project of Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends launched in the summer of 2020 (with the disco pastiche Suck). Three more singles followed in 2021, culminating with the release of the double album "17 Birds at the Summer's Gate."
Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends deliver a hauntingly cinematic experience with “The Crow,” a song that wears its classic influences proudly while carving out its own dark emotional territory. The songwriter himself notes a subconscious echo of an old Roy Orbison tune, and that spirit of dramatic romanticism is felt throughout — yet the track pushes beyond nostalgic homage into something more somber and unsettling.
Built on a bolero-like rhythm, the song unfolds with a slow, deliberate pulse that heightens its sense of tension and longing. Sugary background vocals float like distant memories, adding warmth and contrast to the otherwise brooding atmosphere. As the arrangement swells, dramatic string passages and the mournful voice of an English horn rise at key emotional peaks, creating a lush, almost cinematic arc that feels both timeless and theatrical.
Lyrically, “The Crow” leans into stark imagery of isolation and decay, portraying loneliness through the striking symbol of a crow feeding on the dead. This darkness elevates the song beyond traditional romantic melancholy, giving it a poetic weight that lingers long after the final chord fades.
The performance is equally compelling. Internationally respected drummer Andreas Quincy Dahlbäck anchors the track with tasteful restraint, while David Myhr (The Merrymakers) and Stefan Petersson (Mother James) provide beautifully blended background vocals that enrich the harmonic depth.
“The Crow” stands as a bold, emotionally charged piece of storytelling — a track that balances vintage melodrama with modern emotional clarity, offering listeners a richly textured and unforgettable listening experience.