Peter Bjorn and John join Cassandra Jenkins, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Cults, Grandaddy, Sondre Lerche, Strand of Oaks, Alex Lahey, Hatchie, and more to help Under the Radar celebrate their 20th anniversary with a special Covers of Covers compilation due out March 4th via American Laundromat Records. For the double-CD/digital download the Swedish trio tackled The Divine Comedy’s “Songs of Love.” After trying out a few songs in the studio, Peter Morén of Peter Bjorn and John, noted that it is his love for a cult BBC TV show which led them to The Divine Comedy’s “Songs of Love.”
“Suddenly I realized The Divine Comedy/Neil Hannon wrote the theme tune for the Irish-English sitcom classic ‘Father Ted’, a perennial favorite of mine. This madcap mid-’90s series about three bonkers Catholic priests on a remote, fictitious island called Craggy Island, hit me hard when it ran late night on TV in Sweden. Apparently it’s been banned in the United States and voted second best British comedy after Fawlty Towers, by some poll in 2019. On a tour of (you guessed it) Ireland I got the DVD box-set and pained the rest of the band with it on the bus TV (though our British crew got it).
Long story, but I thought we might as well have a go at it. Bingo! A few jammed out, slightly psychedelic PB&J-angled takes with some added vibraphone and tape-echo and there you have it. We then thought… well the song DOES have a lyric, looked it up, and sang it. A good set of words too… nothing soever to do with Mrs. Doyle or ecumenical matters. Thanks Neil for writing it, and thanks Under the Radar for the opportunity.”
Listen to Peter Bjorn and John’s cover of “Songs of Love” via your preferred streaming service HERE & look for Covers of Covers on March 4 via American Laundromat Records. $1 from each double-CD or digital download will go to support Sweet Relief Musicians Fund and you can pre-order the album HERE and HERE.
