Canadian electronic musician and sound artist Tim Hecker has been delighting and intriguing audiences for nearly two and a half decades now with his distinctive take on abstract electronica. His work is often close to ambient, but is far removed from Eno’s definition of music as creating a »tone« in space. Hecker’s compositions are stark, bold and at times unsettling in the best possible way. “Shards” is a relatively short compilation of tracks originally composed for soundtracks. It comes just under two years after the dark but deeply engaging »No Highs«. This kind of release might seem like a stopgap between formal studio albums, but »Shards« is anything but filler. It contains seven superbly constructed cuts that are vintage Hecker.
Opener »Heaven Will Come« could have fit comfortably on »No Highs«, with its warm background drone topped by uneasy, ringing chords that never quite resolve. It traffics in the uncanny, offering glimpses of something familiar while blurring the edges and creating a sense of dread. Elsewhere, »Morning (Piano Version)« combines gentle, echoing piano phrases with gradually building, treated string-like sounds. Meanwhile, »Icesynth« is aptly titled with its icy cold synthetic tones. Tim Hecker remains a master of suspense and atmosphere. With »Shards«’ he has created a series of soundtrack compositions that stand on their own merits – demonstrating the breadth of his work within a tight running time. This is more than a completist’s release – it offers another chance to dive into his ever-intriguing sonic world.
Shards
