Broken Bells, the collaborative project of Danger Mouse and the Shins’ James Mercer, have given fans the first taste of their upcoming sophomore LP. The duo released “Holding on for Life” as a stream on their official website today, where visitors can also pre-order the record it hails from, After the Disco, the following day.
The song features Danger Mouse’s trademark atmospheric beats and digital soundscapes, underscored by a telltale bass line. Come the chorus, Mercer’s falsetto vocals veer into Bee Gees territory, albeit with a menacing twist, as he repeatedly recites the title.
The album is due out in January on Columbia, though an exact release date hasn’t yet been disclosed. It is the follow-up to the group’s 2010 eponymous debut and 2011’s four-song EP Meyrin Fields.