Peter Bjorn And John - Endless Dream

Wenn wir demnächst alle mies gelaunt mit Lagerkoller in Quarantäne sitzen, dann ist vielleicht das aktuelle Album von Peter Bjorn and John ein Gegenmittel. Legt man die Schallplatte von „Endless Dream“ auf, kann man einerseits den Gutelaune-Indiepop des schwedischen Trios lauschen und andererseits währenddessen auf dem beigefügten Spielbrett versuchen den Gipfel zu stürmen:

Ihren persönlichen Zenit hatten Peter Morén, Björn Yttling und John Eriksson sicherlich 2006 mit der Single „Young Folks“ erreicht, die weltweit die Charts nach oben kletterte. Seitdem sind sie als Komponisten, Musiker und Produzenten aktiv und veröffentlich kontinuierlich ihre gemeinsamen Alben ohne den ganz großen Erfolg wiederholen zu können.  Seit ihrem selbstbetitelten Debütalbum aus dem Jahr 2002 haben sie allen ihren Alben einen Zwei-Wort-Titel verpasst und 2012 mit weiteren schwedischen Künstlern (u.a. Lykke Li und zwei Mitglieder von Miike Snow) ihr eigenes Label INGRID gegründet. „Endless Dream“ ist der Gegenentwurf zum vorherigen recht düsteren „Darker Days“ (2016) bietet allen gute Unterhaltung, die Gitarrenpop zwischen Shout Out Louds und Fountains Of Wayne zu schätzen wissen.  

Mehr als die Hälfte der Songs kann man sich hier anhören:

Opener 'Music' is as PB&J as a song can get, but the following track 'Reason To Be Reasonable' is the one that really sets the tone for the rest of the album. It's a happy-go-lucky tune that really brings on the waves of nostalgia because it sounds like the lead-in to an episode of a wholesome early-2000s TV show. Kind of like OK Go's 'Don't Ask Me' off the 'Smallville' soundtrack. The rest of the album maintains this vibe, with a few interesting sidesteps along the way that do not in any way take you out of the experience that is 'Endless Dream’.
Following 'Reason To Be Reasonable', the album unfolds to reveal more 70s influences. 'Drama King', in particular, has a Bowie and Beatles-esque sound to it, but still keeps some of the peppiness of the other songs allowing it to blend right in with the rest of the album. (…)
(meaww)

As usual, Peter Moren comes up with the big, poppy songs with great choruses tailor-made for his warm embrace of a voice. "Reason to Be Reasonable" is expansive new wave pop with a lively arrangement that features timpani and zither, "Endless Reruns" has a lovely melody framed by sweetly jangling guitars, and both "Simple Song of Sin" and "On the Brink" are deeply felt, brilliantly put together songs; the latter even gets baroquely epic in the verses in a way the band haven't ever been before. Björn Yttling's songs are more restrained, a little weird around the edges, but still almost naggingly catchy. (…)
John Eriksson, as usual, isn't looking to write hits, though. He's the group's experimental tinkerer, and his tracks are filled with shifting dynamics, strange sounds, and treated vocals, especially on the restrained, slightly malevolent "Drama King" or the jittery new wave rocker "A Week-End." Add in the reverb-heavy, jazz-on-the-moon ballad "Idiosyncrasy," and you have a nice balance to the sugary pop the other two guys concoct. (…)
It's hard to believe that after two decades together as a band Peter Bjorn and John are still making records as intense, energetic, inventive, and vital as Endless Dream. It's true, though, and like Darker Days, the album is another reward to those who stuck around and a reminder to those who may have bailed that the trio are still knocking out some top-notch indie rock.
(allmusic)