Broken Bells

Broken Bells emerged in 2009 as a collaboration between The Shins' James Mercer and producer-musician Brian Burton, better known as Danger Mouse. The partnership united Mercer's wry, melancholic songcraft with Burton's atmospheric production aesthetic, creating a sound that balanced vintage psychedelia with modern electronic textures. Their self-titled debut album arrived in 2010, yielding the haunting single "The Ghost Inside" and establishing their trademark approach: layered synths, reverb-drenched guitars, and Mercer's distinctive vocal timbre wrapped in Burton's meticulous arrangements.

The duo's sound draws from 1960s pop experimentalism, krautrock's motorik rhythms, and contemporary hip-hop production techniques. Their 2014 follow-up After the Disco leaned further into dance-oriented grooves whilst maintaining their signature introspection. Though never achieving massive commercial success, Broken Bells carved a niche within indie rock's increasingly electronic landscape, offering a sophisticated counterpoint to both lo-fi bedroom pop and maximalist EDM. Their careful craftsmanship and refusal to chase trends solidified their reputation as consummate album artists in an increasingly singles-driven era.