Solid venture for Shins frontman

Broken Bells’ new, self-titled album is dropping to effervescent reviews. The American indie-alternative rock duo, on the Columbia label, features Shins frontman James Mercer and famed producer Brian Burton (Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley).

The duo’s combined talents have led to ten tracks of dreamy orchestrations and harmonies. The futuristic dins, the heavy, redounding percussion and Mercer’s reverberating voice create a haunting but fresh sound. Reticent, falsetto background vocals help create the besetting, electronic melody that pervades the album.

The album’s energy intensifies with each listen, and listeners will become increasingly hooked. Listeners won’t be able to help themselves from humming the impassioned bridge of “The High Road,” the first single off the Broken Bells album: “Come on and get the minimum/Before you open up your eyes/This army has so many hands/To analyze.”

On March 17, Broken Bells will be playing NPR Music’s SXSW showcase at Stubb’s, one of Austin’s premier venues. The group will be playing alongside an impressive lineup, including Spoon, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, the Walkmen and Visqueen.

Broken Bells has laid out a solid foundation for future material, which will surely be even more intrepid than this debut album.

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