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For those preparing to make the journey down to Austin this month for the annual South By Southwest music festival, Nation Public Radio has taken the time assemble 100 songs out of the 1000 acts playing this year. It’s a great way to discover some new talent whether or not you’re heading down to Texas.
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Early last year, a new album by Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse’s Mark Linkous, with art by David Lynch, was set to be released under the name Dark Night Of the Soul. Promo discs went out to press, an art opening was held in LA and NPR even streamed the record in its entirety. But then the CD never came out—allegedly caused by a “an ongoing dispute with EMI.”
Almost a year later, Danger Mouse has told endangered BBC online music channel to expect the release sometime in June. DM is of course now focusing his attention on his Broken Bells collaboration with James Mercer. So don’t expect EMI to actually sell too many copies of DNotS. Silly major label rabbits.
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We didn’t make it to the super sold-out Broken Bells show this weekend. But LAist caught the debut performance by James Mercer (of The Shins) and Brian Burton (aka Danger Mouse) and gives an encouraging report.
Mercer’s voice was strong and rose above Burton’s shuffling timekeeping. Several songs had a lilting bass groove reminiscent of the Manchester sound of 20 years ago — Stone Roses, Happy Mondays. It was also apparent that these musicians were influenced by the likes of Damon Albarn and Beck — not necessarily a bad thing. Add four- and five-part harmonies and some ace songwriting by Mercer and the live experience had a wall of sound, Floydian feel, melodies grinding through spiral video projected on the stage.
Broken Bells – “The High Road”
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