Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends – Vagnar Av Guld (2026)
Rising from the acclaimed Swedish band, Redmoon, singer-songwriter Arne Floryd stepped to the fore a few years back with his solo project. As Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends, he launched into our ears with several singles in 2020, his 2021 double-album, 17 BIRDS AT THE SUMMER’S GATE, and over the next few years continued until his well-received Americana-leaning 2023 album, NO SWEETS FOR E, wriggled out of our speakers into the audience’s brains. Keep the music rolling, and the Swedish musician turned international heads with singles in 2024 and 2025, including the “…Orbison-pastiche ‘THE CROW’…” Today, we take a look and listen to Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends’ most recent release, ‘Vagnar Av Guld’.
I don’t speak Swedish, but you look at the title – ‘Vagnar Av Guld’ – and immediately think: that’s Viking stuff! In English, the title is translated to “chariots of gold” and is a splash of Swedish folk music caressing your ears with an almost Beach Boys meets the Beatles vintage pop flair. Simplistic and harmonic, the rhythmic flit of David Myhr’s Hammond organ weaves across Floryd’s lead guitar, while Andreas Quincy Dahlbäck provides powerful drumming as an anchor. It’s classically beautiful with timeless tranquillity, while retaining a folksy innocence and youthfulness in its production.
Melodically, the instruments are heart-warming and have you smiling along – a particular feast considering the rainstorm crashing against my window at the moment. The vocals, however, up the ante as if the Alien Friends were telling you a tale of spirit, and fun-filled energy, like The Neverending Story – packed with adventure, but with a sense of calm comfort. Interestingly, the song is a tale of growing up, so the adventure fits nicely into Floryd’s snapshots of yesteryear. He explains:
“On one level, the song is an homage to my children (and grandchildren); but it’s also a story about growing up with snapshots from my childhood.”
This is the Swedish version, but an English version is to be released on Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends’ upcoming, full-length album. I am eager to hear that version, but am completely content singing lyrics in a language I don’t understand and, honestly, translating them might ruin the magic. Highly recommended!
For more from Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends, check out his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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