For the third time, producer Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) and Shins singer James Mercer join forces for a collaboration like Broken Bells. While previous albums have featured influences such as new-wave, folk and post-punk, this time the twosome are mainly looking for melancholy with a tasteful production that draws from psychedelic rock and orchestral pop. Once again, the duo once again balances on
… the edge between a vintage and contemporary sound. Although the production is fine, like its predecessor After the Disco (2014), this album does not offer many surprises. The predominantly slow tempo (with the exception of the disco-infused One Night) contributes to the dreaminess underlying the songs, although a slightly more rousing character might have broken the glibness that now prevails (JvQ)more
