Broken Bells

Broken Bells is James Mercer from The Shins and producer Brian Burton, who records as Danger Mouse. They started working together in 2009, putting out their first album the following year. That self-titled record had songs like 'Good Luck' and 'The High Road,' which mixed Mercer's familiar voice with Burton's layered production.

Their second album, 'After the Disco,' came out in 2014. It leaned a bit more toward dance rhythms, with tracks like 'Holding On For Life' and the title cut. The duo's sound has always been a balance of live instrumentation and electronic textures, never quite fitting neatly into either indie rock or straight electronica.

They haven't released a huge amount of music, but what's there feels considered. The songs tend to be moody and melodic, built around Mercer's lyrics and Burton's arrangements. It's the kind of project that happens when two established musicians decide to try something different together, without the pressure of their main bands.