Looks can be deceiving, but musically speaking – arrangements can be. That’s what came to mind as soon as “Cities Above” by Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends came to an end. It has this sweet, melodic outer shell but once you dig deeper in between the lines, you get that this is far from an endearing, happy-go-lucky tune. It’s that juxtaposition between the music and the lyrics that makes it a grand listen.
“Cities Above,” musically is very reminiscent of the Brit-pop that came overseas during the ‘60s and into the early ‘70s. That sweet-natured music that possesses the body to sway in a carefree motion on a beautiful day. However, Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends doesn’t shy away from the reality of love lost, and right off the bat when the narrator of this musical tale states they didn’t know if the person on the receiving end was happy once upon a time. This song does lean towards being a modern-day song a Beatles fan could love, but it also has this cheery melancholy that reminds me of something The Cure would’ve delivered in their heyday as well.
This is one of 17 songs that can be found on Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends’ 2021 double album, ‘17 Birds at the Summer’s Gate.’ So those who like this one should check out the rest of the record that features the singles “But Come On Now!” and “Love Will Prevail.” To hear “Cities Above” and more from Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends, check them out on all major music and streaming sites today.
Written by Kendra Beltran
