Canada’s purveyor of sonic dreamscapes returns with his proper follow-up to 2006’s Harmony in Ultraviolet. On An Imaginary Country, dense layers of drones swirl amidst shimmering melodies and shifting tones. Where most drone-based artists revel in unflinching glacial murk, Hecker’s wall of sound is much more dynamic and intentional. Beneath the drones lie gorgeous, slow-moving melodies that are nothing short of hypnotic, drawing the listener into a world of sound that is all encompassing, expansive and memorable. Headphones are a must.

Published in Volume 63, Number 25 of The Uniter (March 26, 2009)