Broken Bells
Broken Bells is the musical partnership between James Mercer (The Shins) and Brian Burton (Danger Mouse). At the foundation of this mutually magnetic, incredibly close friendship is its origin: a shared love of music, and more specifically the many influences the two have in common. This diverse sonic array makes their 3rd album, INTO THE BLUE, a kaleidoscopic genre and decade-spanning ode to those influences — From The Beatles to Pink Floyd, from ‘60s psychedelia to 70s rock and AM Gold, from ‘80s New Wave to ‘90s Trip Hop… and the formative Elephant 6 collective. The first Broken Bells album to feature samples in addition to James and Brian’s own organic sounds, INTO THE BLUE finds Broken Bells in uncharted territory. James and Brian venture into bold new directions while retaining their signature glistening pop perfection with just a hint of the sinister. While Burton has had his pick of collaborators in musical forays, he has found his creative soulmate in James Mercer. Mercer has helped unlock a new musical world for both himself and Burton as Broken Bells. The result has been the creation of cosmic and forceful music from a duo with mutual respect and shared talents. It’s not The Shins. It’s not Danger Mouse. It’s Broken Bells.