Tim Hecker Essentials

One of the world's most celebrated electronic producers, Tim Hecker is usually lumped in the ambient category, but his music is much darker, much noisier, and much more political than any of his peers. On LPs like Virgins and Mirages, the Canadian musician bends live instrumentation to his will, turning guitar, piano, and organ lines into taut and completely unrecognizable forms. Hecker is also a spirited collaborator, having worked with fellow producer Oneohtrix Point Never on the beautifully warped International Tourist and recorded a track with Destroyer's Dan Bejar.