Dynamic duo James Mercer (of The Shins) and super-producer Danger Mouse have joined forces once again as Broken Bells. They’re set to drop their second collaborative effort After The Disco, this February but you can stream it right now exclusively via Music Feeds!
Fans got a taste of the forthcoming record with the single, Holding On For Life, whose unique, sci-fi-themed music video, directed by Jacob Gentry and written by Danger Mouse, combined footage from two short films produced by the band.
After The Disco builds on Broken Bells 2010 self-titled debut, layering Mercer’s distinctive melancholic falsetto over Danger Mouse’s synth-laden grooves. Although peppered with euphoric ’80s-inspired electronica, this new offering deals with darker lyrical content.
The result, Danger Mouse tells Rolling Stone, is “a pretty sad record”. “It’s pretty bleak in a way,” he explained. “We used the same couple of guitars, the same bass, the same drums, maybe two or three synthesizers at most for the whole album… I like the idea of two guys being able to make something that sounds really big.”
The multi-faceted producer told the publication Broken Bells had become his “main gig” and that the content for most of this record was born of late-night discussions with Mercer about life and love.
“You hear it in the lyrics,” he said. “Those were coming from a lot of the discussions; the relationships, you know, he’s married and I don’t have a relationship like that so I’m kind of all over the place – but we find a lot of common ground in those types of things.”
Broken Bells are set to head off for a couple of North American and European tour dates before their highly coveted spot on the Coachella lineup. Interestingly, there’s a big gap between the duo’s Governors Ball 2014 appearance and their next tour date at the start of August, which we think puts them in good stead as a possible Splendour 2014 act.
After The Disco is released in Australia next Friday, 7th February through Sony Music.
Listen: Broken Bells – After The Disco (Full Album)
