We last featured Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends in 2023 for the transcendental and invigorating single, My Favourite Song, so when we heard that Arne Floryd was back with The Sparrow, we couldn’t wait to immerse ourselves in his universe once more.
Establishing the mood with a cerebral soundscape, textured percussion and psychedelic dimensionality, The Sparrow opens with awe and a power-pop adjacency with the moving lyrics, “I once saw a little sparrow dying, I could feel her heartbeat hard beneath my hands…” The tale of a sparrow who flew into a window and died is punctuated with astral, rippling guitar strums and leads to another tale of a woman burning in a window, and eventually a self-reflective tale where we learn that this is all but a metaphor.
The visuals are visceral and emotive, and we love the chord choices of the song, which evoke a super high emotional quotient. The guitar performances are sublime and we are captivated by the ethereal hook, “Fly sparrow fly…”. Fans of David Bowie would be able to connect with this, and we could imagine hearing this poolside on the rooftop of Petit Ermitage in West Hollywood, a place where songs of this nature often find their home.
The cinematic nature of the track would also make it a perfect fit for a more psychedelic and existential TV show like Nine Perfect Strangers.
Speaking on the metaphorical meaning of the song, Arne confesses, “The melody for The Sparrow came to me in a dream. The music, mostly in minor, and the several tonal changes create an atmosphere of uncertainty and dreamy melancholia; an atmosphere enhanced by church bells and a mellotron. The narrator tells the story of a sparrow fighting for his life, but only to find out that the dying bird just might be the narrator himself.”
Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends continues to craft music that feels both timeless and personal. He blends echoes of classic folk and power pop with deep and philosophical lyrical honesty. With his album The King and the Sparrow on the horizon, Arne proves once again that his songwriting can turn dreamy melancholia into something vivid and resonant.
We have added The Sparrow to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whist we stream the entirety of The King and the Sparrow album and continue to stream Arne’s exquisite wider discography including Bells of Silver, and The Crow.