This Swedish indie rock unit were formed in Stockholm in 1999 by Peter Moren (b. 5 May 1976, Falun, Dalarna, Sweden; vocals/guitar), Bjorn Yttling (b. 6 October 1974, Umea, Vasterbotten, Sweden; bass, keyboards, vocals), and John Eriksson (b. 9 August 1974, Pitea, Norbotten, Sweden; drums/vocals). Moren and Yttling began making music together in the early 90s and did not meet drummer Eriksson until the end of the decade. Eriksson had grown up in the small town of Hortlax along with fellow drummer Fredrik Granberg of wacky punk quartet, Randy. The trio released a strong self-titled album of lo-fi power pop in 2002 that recalled Elvis Costello and Supergrass. There was an evident progression in their musicianship by the time of 2004’s darker and more rounded Falling Out. However, it was the appearance of the Belle And Sebastian -influenced ‘Young Folks’ single, a duet between Moren and Victoria Bergsman of the Concretes, in summer 2006 that got the band increased airplay on radio stations throughout Europe. The track pushed a danceable beat to the forefront of the mix, and was underpinned by the unlikely but ultimately infectious combination of Eriksson’s bongos and Yttling’s whistling.
Alongside his involvement in Peter Bjorn And John, Yttling carved out a career in production and arrangement, working for fellow Swedes, the Concretes, the Hives, the Caesars, and the Shout Out Louds. Prior to the completion of 2006’s Writer’s Block, he also recorded an album for Headspin Records in 2005 under the moniker Yttling Jazz. On its release, Writer’s Block was by far the band’s greatest achievement, a fully realised fusion of intelligent songwriting and innovative production. Moren’s ‘Objects Of My Affection’ combined the rhythm, soul and self-analysis of a Rubber Soul -era John Lennon composition, with the atmosphere and melodic distortion of a My Bloody Valentine record. Eriksson’s ‘Up Against The Wall’, meanwhile, invoked Blur’s early Syd Barrett -influenced material.
