Tim Hecker

Dropped Pianos isn't a new album, per se, but nine sketches recorded in 2010 for his most recent, and strongest, album, Ravedeath, 1972. Using beautifully sparse, minimal piano, as opposed to the church organ in the Ravedeath versions, and minimal layering, the sketches are more than just a demo tape. Many of the phrases and melodies are recognisable from the album proper, but they have a different feel. With the naked piano so exposed and the layered sonic treatments much less at the forefront, the tone is rawer, more melancholic and has more in common with Norway's Deaf Center than the trademark Hecker sound. A fascinating insight into Hecker's working process, Dropped Pianos further demonstrates the depth of his talent and the uniqueness of his vision. It's a welcome companion piece to Ravedeath, but it is also great album in its own right.