Into the Blue

by Broken Bells

Overview

After the release of 2014's After the Disco, Broken Bells' Danger Mouse and James Mercer took a healthy break from the project -- eight years, to be exact. During that time, Mercer released two albums and toured with the Shins, while Danger Mouse collaborated with artists including the Roots' Black Thought and further established himself as an A-list producer with clients like A$AP Rocky, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Karen O. From the sound of Into the Blue, however, Mercer and Danger Mouse also found time to stockpile songs and ideas to work on together. As on their self-titled debut album and After the Disco, the sweeping atmospheres are the focal point of Broken Bells' music, but rarely has their sprawl seemed so purposeful. "Into the Blue" is as much a statement of intent as a song so drifting can be. Tethered only by its deliberate beat, it's a space oddity that sounds sparse at first but gains altitude with massive clouds of keyboards, chimes, and backing vocals before it finally floats away. Danger Mouse and Mercer continue the trippy melancholy on "We're Not in Orbit," setting a galaxy's worth of regret to epic yet weightless rock that harks back to Pink Floyd. Similarly, the duo borrows from vintage R&B on the standout "Love on the Run," which balances stately strings and brass and one of Mercer's sweeter vocal performances in perfect harmony. However, as Into the Blue unfolds, its musical and emotional cohesion gives way to intriguing but more discrete tracks linked largely by their cinematic feel. The moody pulse of "One Night"'s synth pop feels like it was plucked from a montage in an '80s movie; "Forgotten Boy," with its trip-hop beat and smoky melody, could be the theme from a forgotten '90s spy film. Into the Blue offers enough thoughtful songwriting and creative sonics to suggest Broken Bells has matured into the pleasantly offbeat side project it was always meant to be. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	10/07/2022
Label:	30Th Century Records / Aural Apothecary
UPC:	5056167170419
Rank:	60174

Tracks

1. Into the Blue
2. We're Not in Orbit Yet...
3. Invisible Exit
4. Love on the Run
5. One Night
6. Saturdays
7. Forgotten Boy
8. The Chase
9. Fade Away

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Broken Bells   Primary Artist
Sam Cohen   Bass,Bells,Drums,Guitar,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
David Christian   Drums
Pelican City   Organ,Piano,Mellotron,Synthesizer
Questlove   Drums
James Mercer   Bass,Guitar,Vocals
Alecia Chakour   Vocals (Background)
Lauren Baba   Viola,Strings
Kaitlin Wolfberg   Violin,Strings
Alba Ponce De Leon   Vocals (Background)
Oliver Hill   Violin,Strings
Emily Elkin   Cello,Strings

Technical Credits

Bob Weston   Mastering
Sam Cohen   Composer
Emil Thielhelm   Composer
Pelican City   Composer
Michael Esposito   Composer
James Milne   Composer
Danger Mouse   Producer
James Mercer   Composer
Kenny Takahashi   Mixing,Engineer
Ralph Scala   Composer
Matt Koenig   String Engineer
Todd Monfalcone   Engineer
Ronald Gilbert   Composer
Ian Montone   Management
Jeff Antebi   Management
Jacob Escobedo   Cover Art,Illustrations
Dean Josiah Cover   Composer
Oliver Hill   String Arrangements
Kelly Ford   Package Design
Matt Pollack   Management
Tiffany Steffens   Management