Broken Bells

Haven't mentioned this project yet but Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) is by far my favourite producer of the last 5 or so years. Have always liked The Shins too- though not as much as a lot of geeky indie fanboys.

Single The High Road has been stuck in my head since I first heard it. It just has a classic laidback sound with a gorgeous hook. WATCH THE RATHER COOL VIDEO HERE

The album is released on Monday 8 March. With-a-tracklisting-like-this:

The High Road
Vaporize
Your Head Is On Fire
The Ghost Inside
Sailing To Nowhere
Trap Doors
Citizen
October
Mongrel Heart
The Mall & Misery

I anticipate something akin to Beck's nice last album Modern Guilt- also produced by DM. but I could be wrong. LISTEN TO SOME OF MY FAVE DANGER MOUSE TRACKS HERE

Dark Night Of The Soul

I spend late nights debating (with myself) who my favourite producer of all time is. There's Dre, Timbaland, Rick Rubin, even Liam Howlett. But certainly up there is Dangermouse (aka Brian Burton) who was responsible for two of the best albums of last year- from The Shortwave Set and Gnarls Barkley.

Plus he's unafraid to take risks. He mashed up The Beatles and Jigga on the Grey album created a conceptual masterpiece with Damon Albarn (Demon Days) and took Cee-Lo's mental health issues to number one (Crazy).

He's continued the risk taking with a new album-concept-project with Sparklehorse called Dark Night Of The Soul which will be released as a book and CD with images by David Lynch. Yes, David Lynch. The album also features The Flaming Lips, Julian Casablancas, Iggy Pop, Gruff Rhys and Suzanne Vega. WOW.

YOU CAN HEAR IT AT THE CHRYSALIS MUSIC BLOG