Broken Bells Give Away Song Online, Announce Album Details

Back in September we happily reported the news that The Shins frontman James Mercer and Danger Mouse were forming a new band — Broken Bells. And now we know the duo will release their much-anticipated, self-titled debut on March 8 via Columbia.

The first single, “The High Road,” is now available as a free download on Brokenbells.com.

Broken Bells features Mercer on vocals, guitars and bass while Burton plays organ, drums, piano, synths and bass. The pair play all the instruments on the album with the exception of a full string section arranged by Daniele Luppi. Broken Bells was recorded by Todd Monfalcone and Kennie Takahashi at Mondo Studio in Los Angeles and produced by Burton.

Speaking of recording the album, Danger Mouse told NME.com:

“It was very easy. We didn’t put any pressure on ourselves so there was nothing we trying to achieve or could fall short of, and we work together really, really well. We did it all together, it was all in the same studio, with couple of great engineers.”

Each a long-time fan of each others work, Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton) and Mercer first met face-to-face backstage at the 2004 Roskilde Festival in Copenhagen.

The duo recently worked together on the Danger Mouse-Sparklehorse project, Dark Night of the Soul.

Broken Bells /Tracklist

• 01. The High Road
• 02. Vaporize
• 03. Heads On Fire
• 04. The Ghost Inside
• 05. Sailing To Nowhere
• 06. Trap Doors
• 07. Citizen
• 08. Float
• 09. The Waiting Game
• 10. The Mall And Misery

What do you think of the first track from Broken Bells?