Broken Bells - Broken Bells (Album)
» James Mercer + Dangermouse = Broken Bells - December 15, 2009
I'll admit that I never saw it coming: revered singer-songwriter, The Shins' James Mercer and mercurial producer Brian Burton (free, if only for this project, from his moniker Danger Mouse) all buddied up and ready to enter the fray with a debut album as Broken Bells.
But why not? It presents itself as a considerably grand idea, given the established and distinct careers of each artist respectively. But this very fact just might have worked against them.
Opening track 'The High Road' boots up like a strange supercomputer before a mellow, electronic swagger hits, and - before long, Mercer chimes in, recalling all at once his brilliance with The Shins.
In fact, as an opening track, it does much to appeal to fans of Wincing the Night Away, and yet charts its own territory with a participatory, anthemic chorus that gently eases the listener into a relaxed mood sustained across the record.
'Your Head is on Fire' plots a floating, interstellar voyage, and 'The Ghost Inside' - surely due for future release - excels in Mercer's best Damon-Albarn-falsetto, maintaining the duo's emphasis on crafting slick, atmospheric grooves.
It’s soon confirmed that Broken Bells, whilst an experimental venture, creates beauty in its vast offerings of Mercer's melodies and Burton's attempt at forging electronic hooks and loops. Overall, it’s a slow-burning album, the stand-outs will only come to you with multiple listens.
But the question is, of course, whether Broken Bells does anything more than simply meet the hypothesis of taking Mercer's and Burton's best and putting it in a blender. The answer is - and you know it less than ten minutes in - obviously not.
It’s true that Burton is impeccable in his accompaniment of Mercer, scoring elaborate backdrops of synth, organ and piano, drawing elements together to enhance his fellow musician.
It’s equally apparent, however, that the product of this partnership is one entirely expected of any listener with even an ounce of anticipation in seeing these two collaborate. The very idea of the team is executed in an uninspired, unsurprising manner.
This, however, is not necessarily to say it’s a failure of an album. It is only to say that the matter simply falls to the desires of the listener. For example, if one enjoys the work of The Shins and expects to be challenged or goaded from their comfort zone, Broken Bells will not fulfil these wishes as much as they'd like.
Reports reveal that the duo is already working on a follow-up release to the self-titled debut.
It’s as simple as this: their next outing would have to be a great departure, strictly mind-blowing where this wasn't, for the team of Broken Bells to have legs.
What we have here is a good album - to some, perhaps even a great album - but it’s tainted with an immeasurable frustration: the thought of what it could have been.
