Rock/Review Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends - Summer's Gate

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."

The expansive 12-minute conclusion "Summer's Gate" from “17 Birds at the Summer's Gate” has an unnerving immediacy to it, yet feeling like a time capsule from the heyday of epic rock in the 1970s. Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends creates a work that is remarkably current and emotionally stirring while evoking the spirit of Floydian grandeur.

Written in 2020, prior to the intensification of the conflict in Ukraine and the worsening Middle Eastern crises, the song now seems almost prophetic, with lyrics that reaffirm the cyclical nature of violence, the weight of memory, and the frailty of peace. However, "Summer's Gate" struggles with the notion of hope fading in the darkness rather than giving in to cynicism.

The song itself is a musical trip. Before erupting into sweeping guitar work, intricately layered soundscapes, and eerie vocal lines that swell and disintegrate in waves, it begins with a beautiful, almost pastoral mood. With the assurance of a band that doesn't mind taking its time, the tempo is purposeful and develops gradually. The emotional arc is supported by every instrumental section, from crescendos of annoyance and longing to melancholy lulls.

This song is a unique jewel for lovers of intricate poetry and lengthy melodies. In addition to concluding the album, "Summer's Gate" causes the listener to consider the situation of the world in general and the function of art in providing meaning. Long after the last note dies, the finale remains resonant and fitting.