Broken Bells
Meyrin Fields EP
Columbia
Apr 22, 2011 Web Exclusive
A little more than a year after Broken Bells—the inspired duo of The Shins’ James Mercer and Danger Mouse—released an album together, the Meyrin Fields EP further showcases their glitchy-yet-melodic space pop. Only two of the four songs are technically new, but quality is what counts here. Crunchy and distant but still endearing, the duo breaks down technology to make it sound breezy.
“An Easy Life” swings by like a hammock on a hot day, albeit with blasts of guitar feedback melded into the background. Each of the songs has an ominous sense of uneasiness, despite the fluid melodies and easy-to-catch-on choruses. “Windows” sneaks up with syncopated bass, unnerving harmonies, and an abrupt guitar solo finale that ends the song with no warning. Apocalyptic title track “Meyrin Fields” is undoubtedly the best of the bunch. And closing number “Heartless Empire” appropriately fades into a wall of fuzz, blurring into the spacey oblivion Broken Bells create best. (www.brokenbells.com)
Author rating: 7/10
Average reader rating: 6/10
Current Issue
Issue #72
Apr 19, 2024 Issue #72 - The ‘90s Issue with The Cardigans and Thurston Moore
Most Recent
- Premiere: Shawna Virago Shares New Video for “The Barman’s Daughter” (News) —
- Premiere: Coral Moons Share New Single “poser” (News) —
- Youth Lagoon Shares Video for New Song “Lucy Takes a Picture” (News) —
- Bumbershot Festival Announces 2024 Lineup – Pavement, James Blake, Courtney Barnett, and More (News) —
- A Story of Floating Weeds/Floating Weeds: Two Films by Yasujiro Ozu (Review) —
Comments
Submit your comment
February 10th 2012
4:12pm
Sounds like an interesting album.
March 11th 2013
7:27pm
fucking hostile :D