Broken Bells

Broken Bells are James Mercer of the Shins and Danger Mouse (Brian Burton), who is half of Gnarls Barkley and the producer on albums by Gorillaz, the Black Keys, Beck and others. Mercer’s dreamy melodies and memorable hooks meld organically with Danger’s Mouse spacey soundscapes and elastic tempos. Burton sets Mercer’s soothing, melancholic voice against dynamic beats and lush backdrops that add power and punch to these carefully structured songs. “Vaporize” begins like a classic Shins tune before morphing into an organ-driven groove. “The Ghost Inside” features Mercer singing in a strained yet pleasing falsetto over a funky, skittering synth beat. There are straight-forward gems such as “The High Road” and “Trap Doors” as well as atmospheric beauties like the gurgling “Your Head Is On Fire,” the tense and wiry “Citizen,” and the ingeniously constructed “Sailing to Nowhere.” Flush with surprises and brilliant sonic touches, Broken Bells is an inspired collaboration that should please fans of the Shins and Danger Mouse alike.