Danger Mouse, Shins Frontman Are Broken Bells

The Shins' James Mercer and Danger Mouse have combined their musical powers to create a new duo called Broken Bells.

Their first album will be out sometime next year on Columbia, and Danger Mouse and Mercer will reportedly release more than just one album.

The two first collaborated on the ill-fated Danger Mouse/Sparklehorse/David Lynch Dark Night Of The Soul project earlier this year. That album, which was to be released to stores, was hampered by a legal dispute. That meant it came out as an artbook featuring photos from Lynch and a blank CD-R instead of the proper album.

Of course, Danger Mouse is no stranger to collaborating or working with rock musicians. He's produced discs by Sparklehorse, The Good, The Band And The Queen, The Black Keys and Beck.

Earlier this year, The Shins announced they were parting ways with Sub Pop Records and would release albums on Mercer's Aural Apothecary label from now on.

Keyboardist Marty Crandall and drummer Jesse Sandoval are also no longer in the band, and have been replaced by Fruit Bats' Ron Lewis on bass and Modest Mouse drummer Joe Plummer. Sandoval has since started a taco stand.

The Shins' most recent album is 2007's Wincing The Night Away.