Ambient pop duo Broken Bells features Brian Burton (producer, organ, drums, piano, synths, bass) and James Mercer (vocals, guitar). Outside of their context, these names may not mean a lot, but what if I were to tell you that Brian is otherwise known as Danger Mouse? Yes, that Danger Mouse: of Gnarls Barkley and the producer for Gorillaz, The Black Keys, Beck, The Rapture, and the late Sparklehorse, among others. You can find James performing at his day job as lead vocalist and guitarist for another great band, The Shins.

Not a bad combo and both members agree that this is not a one-off thing; they are in it for the long run.

According to Spin’s Kevin Bronson, “Broken Bells' broad sonic palette yields an arrestingly cinematic and choral take on guitar balladry, electro-pop, and white soul.” He went on to compare Broken Bells to another super talented collaboration, The Postal Service. Except he said, “what Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello were to your bedroom, [Brian] and [James] are to the heavens.”

This article appears in Mar 10-16, 2010.