‘Wedding Song’ – A Roller Coaster Brought To Life

Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends is a hell of a name for a band, but surprisingly, this isn’t even a group. Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends is the alias of Swedish musician Arne Floryd, who has found previous success as a musician in Redmoon. 

Floryd released his debut album under his superb alias in 2021, the exceptional ’17 Birds at the Summer’s Gate’. The opening track from that release was the emotional ‘Wedding Song’. 

Opening with electric guitars layered in country twang combined with a distant and subtle violin, the track immediately feels tense and anxious. It is no surprise the music feels this way, however, as Floryd details the nerves on the morning of what is to many the most important day of their lives, where he sings “You hear the church bells ringing / Friends are on their way / Butterflies are winging / On your wedding day”.  

The picture painted by the Swede is one of borderline terror, and the minor key does little to reassure the listener. However, as the chorus kicks in the vibe of the song quickly changes. The strings become elegant and soar as the key turns major, whilst the falsetto vocals add a Beatles-esque quality to the track. 

‘Wedding Song’ is an offering that easily sways from one emotion to another, using clever musical tricks to guide the listener down a certain path before abruptly changing direction. It’s a clever and thoughtfully crafting song from Floryd, and one that keeps the listener wanting more. 

James Ogden 

Image: ’17 Birds at the Summer’s Gate’ Official Album Cover