Shards (EP)

Last updated
Shards
Shards-TimHecker.jpg
EP by
Tim Hecker
ReleasedFebruary 21, 2025 (2025-02-21)
Genre
Length31:07
Label Kranky
Tim Hecker chronology
No Highs
(2023)		Shards
(2025)
Singles from Shards
  1. "Sunset Key Melt"
    Released: January 16, 2025

Shards is an EP [1] [note 1] by Canadian electronic music musician Tim Hecker. It was released in February 21, 2025 through Kranky. The EP received positive reviews from critics.

Contents

Release and composition

Shards was released in February 21, 2025 through Kranky. [2] In promotion for Shards, Hecker released "Sunset Key Melt" as a single on January 16. [3] Alongside it, a visualizer was made for the track, depicting a jet-ski. [4] The EP is composed of scrapped tracks that Hecker made for Infinity Pool , The North Water , Luzifer , and Lockdown Tower . [5] [6] [7] Although, the soundtracks for Infinity Pool and The North Water were released before. [8]

The EP has been described as ambient and experimental. [6] [7]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 73/100 [9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]
MusicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Pitchfork 7.1/10 [7]
PopMatters 8/10 [2]
Uncut 6/10 [11]

Shards received positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, a review aggregator, the EP has a score of 73 out of 100 from 5 reviews, meaning generally favorable reviews.

Paul Simpson writing for AllMusic said that Shards was "representative of his signature sound, encapsulating the emotional depth and innovative sonic". [8] Writing for MusicOMH , Sam Shepherd said that the EP was more "cohesive" and "let the listener to create their own interpretations and visualisations". [10] Pitchfork writer Christopher R. Weingarten said that the EP was Hecker's most diverse work and that it was "an unfixed landscape that moves from shadowy to frigid to transcendent with ease". [7] Comparing Shards to Hecker's Harmony in Ultraviolet (2006) and Virgins (2013), J. Simpson of PopMatters said that Shards was "subtler, more delicate meditation on the world and our place in it". [2] Jon Dale for Uncut said that the EP showed Hecker's ability in soundtracks, and that it was "weirdly disembodied". [11]

Track listing

Shards track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Heaven Will Come"4:48
2."Morning (Piano Version)"4:22
3."Monotone 3"4:18
4."Ice Synth"2:45
5."Sars Requiem"3:13
6."Joyride Alternate"4:05
7."Sunset Key Melt"7:36
Total length:31:07

Notes

  1. ↑ Some sources say it is an album.

References

  1. ↑ @sunblindstudios; (January 16, 2025). "Shards, an EP of various recent scoring pieces, is out on Feb 21. 🙏🏼 More details soon. Peace love respect" – via Instagram.
  2. 1 2 3 Simpson, J. (March 12, 2025). "Tim Hecker Expresses the Beauty and Terror of Modern Life". PopMatters . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  3. ↑ Jones, Abby (January 16, 2025). "Tim Hecker – "Sunset Key Melt" & "Morning (Piano Version)"". Stereogum . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  4. ↑ Murray, Robin (January 17, 2025). "Tim Hecker Announces New Album 'Shards'". Clash . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  5. ↑ Davis, Ted (February 20, 2025). "Tim Hecker Isn't Afraid To Slow Down". Stereogum . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Rickinson, Steve (March 25, 2025). "Album Review: Tim Hecker - Shards". Black Rhino Radio. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Weingarten, Christopher R. (February 26, 2025). "Tim Hecker: Shards". Pitchfork . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 Simpson, Paul. "Shards Review by Paul Simpson". AllMusic . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Shards by Tim Hecker". Metacritic . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Shepherd, Sam (February 21, 2025). "Tim Hecker – Shards" . MusicOMH . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Dale, Jon (April 2025). "Tim Hecker - Shards". Uncut . p. 31.
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