Nearly two months ago, Peter Morén, one third of the indie rock hit-makers Peter Bjorn And John, was showcasing unadulterated material at one of New York's most intimate venues. Now, the frontman has announced an April 8 release date for his first solo album, The Last Tycoon (Quarterstick). As news trickled in about the specific plans for the debut, CMJ phoned Sweden to get the lowdown straight from the man himself. "Bjorn and I have been working together since we were 15 years old. At one point in time you really need to do something where you make all the decisions yourself. If... you prove that you can do it," says Morén. "When I got this idea for the album—even though it's kind of similar because it's melodic and poppy—I wanted to take it away from the band thing. I wanted it to be low-key, acoustic and a bit more folky." The forthcoming album derives its title from F. Scott Fitzgerald's posthumously published The Love Of The Last Tycoon. However, Morén maintained a far deeper connection with the 1976 film The Last Tycoon, which was based on the novel. "To begin with, I kind of just like how it sounds," he says. "I saw the movie a long time ago and I carried that title around in my head. It's a lot about the failure of the American dream—like a very successful producer who can't have a functional love life because he's wrapped up in his work." Although Morén insisted that the Fitzgerald-titled record would stray from nonfulfillment, as the unfinished novel failed to do, he revealed small bumps in the recording road. "Ideally, I'd love to make music really quickly—just go and make a record in a couple of weeks. When I began this project, I didn't think of it as a finished piece. In one way it makes it easier because you can listen, think and change things. But on the other hand, you can almost become obsessed with small details." The Last Tycoon, which draws upon classic '70s folk pioneers like Tim Hardin and Bert Jansch, was described by the singer/songwriter as homey. The poppy 10-track endeavor is said to touch heavily upon adolescence and features artwork drawn by the frontman's girlfriend. And lastly, but certainly not least, Morén imparted the details of a short 12-date tour that kicks off at the Mercury Lounge in New York, officially inaugurating his April debut. Tour Dates For Peter Morén: 04/21 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge 04/22 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Upstairs 04/23 - Montreal, QC - Cabaret Musee Juste Pour Rire 04/24 - Toronto, ON - The Mod Club 04/25 - Columbus, OH - Wexner Center 04/26 - Chicago, IL - Schubas Tavern 04/28 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret 04/29 - Seattle, WA - The Triple Door 04/30 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge 05/01 - San Francisco, CA - Swedish American Hall 05/02 - Los Angeles, CA - The Hotel Café 05/03 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour www.myspace.com/petermorn
