Broken Bells (self titled)

Weird weird Weird!! One of the most bizarre music couplings ever would have to be that of Broken Bells - Danger Mouse and James Mercer of The Shins. I really had no idea what to expect when this puppy came sliding through my letterbox.

Somehow though, this seemingly mismatched pair work. With a style that they describe as "melodic, but experimental too" (thanks Wikipedia) they manage to bring a fresh sound to the airwaves.

A little bit of synth, a little bit of trumpet, some strings, some beats and yes... melody. You don't have to be an old, grumpy man with his brown pants pulled up to his saggy nipples waving a stick at some damned nuisance kids to know that the art of the melody has all but vanished from a lot of music these days. Broken Bells have a huge melodic focus and I for one am more than a little grateful.

The first single and first track on the disc is The High Road which, after a somewhat schizophrenic keyboard introduction settles into a good catchy road-trippy song with Vaporize picking up the pace a little but allowing the vocalist a little more room to strut his stuff.

The Ghost Inside is one of my picks from the album being catchy, having a little wail in the vocals and showing up the playful (dare I say whimsical) nature of their mix of instruments. Sailing to Nowhere is similar, if a little more laid back in it's tempo and relegating any guitar work to the back of the track. This is a pretty relaxed and chilled out album with plenty to offer the listener. Trap Doors is a little more heavy on the vocals but still manages to retain their unique style and strong melody.

In many ways the album has a very retro feel to it, but it's also looking forward as it messes around with mixes and instruments and ultimately creates something surprising, entertaining and a good kind of different. It's not a sound you will have heard much of before and it's one I could listen to a lot more of. This has the potential to become one of my favourite albums of the year.


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4 repaired bells