{{short description|2025 EP by Tim Hecker}} {{Infobox album | name = Shards | artist = Tim Hecker | type = EP | cover = Shards-TimHecker.jpg | released = {{Start date|2025|2|21}} | genre = *Ambient *experimental | length = {{duration||31|7}} | label = Kranky | prev_year = 2023 | prev_title = No Highs | misc = {{Singles | type = ep | single1 = Sunset Key Melt | name = Shards | single1date = January 16, 2025 }} }}
'''''Shards''''' is an EP<ref>{{Cite Instagram |postid=DE5FNRZyfcD |user=sunblindstudios |title=Shards, an EP of various recent scoring pieces, is out on Feb 21. 🙏🏼 More details soon. Peace love respect |date=January 16, 2025}}</ref>{{Refn|Some sources say it is an album.|group=note}} by Canadian electronic music musician Tim Hecker. It was released in February 21, 2025 through Kranky. The EP received positive reviews from critics.
==Release and composition== ''Shards'' was released in February 21, 2025 through Kranky.<ref name="pm">{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=J. |title=Tim Hecker Expresses the Beauty and Terror of Modern Life |url=https://www.popmatters.com/tim-hecker-shards-review |website=PopMatters |access-date=August 4, 2025 |date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> In promotion for ''Shards'', Hecker released "Sunset Key Melt" as a single on January 16.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Abby |title=Tim Hecker – "Sunset Key Melt" & "Morning (Piano Version)" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2293311/tim-hecker-sunset-key-melt-morning-piano-version/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=August 4, 2025 |date=January 16, 2025}}</ref> Alongside it, a visualizer was made for the track, depicting a jet-ski.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Robin |title=Tim Hecker Announces New Album 'Shards' |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/tim-hecker-announces-new-album-shards/ |website=Clash |access-date=August 4, 2025 |date=January 17, 2025}}</ref> The EP is composed of scrapped tracks that Hecker made for ''Infinity Pool'', ''The North Water'', ''Luzifer'', and ''Lockdown Tower''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Ted |title=Tim Hecker Isn't Afraid To Slow Down |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2297752/tim-hecker-shards/interviews/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=August 4, 2025 |date=February 20, 2025}}</ref><ref name="brr">{{cite web |last1=Rickinson |first1=Steve |title=Album Review: Tim Hecker - Shards |url=https://blackrhinoradio.com/reviews/album-review-tim-hecker-shards |website=Black Rhino Radio |access-date=August 4, 2025 |date=March 25, 2025}}</ref><ref name="pf" /> Although, the soundtracks for ''Infinity Pool'' and ''The North Water'' were released before.<ref name="am">{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Paul |title=Shards Review by Paul Simpson |url={{AllMusic|id=mw0004462452|pure_url=yes}} |website=AllMusic |access-date=August 4, 2025}}</ref>
The EP has been described as ambient and experimental.<ref name="brr" /><ref name="pf">{{cite web |last1=Weingarten |first1=Christopher R. |title=Tim Hecker: Shards |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/tim-hecker-shards/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=August 4, 2025 |date=February 26, 2025}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Music ratings | MC = 73/100<ref name="mc">{{cite web |title=Shards by Tim Hecker |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/shards/tim-hecker |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=August 4, 2025}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="am" /> | rev2 = ''MusicOMH'' | rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="omh">{{cite web |last1=Shepherd |first1=Sam |title=Tim Hecker – Shards |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/tim-hecker-shards |url-access=limited |website=MusicOMH |access-date=August 4, 2025 |date=February 21, 2025}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev3score = 7.1/10<ref name="pf" /> | rev4 = ''PopMatters'' | rev4score = 8/10<ref name="pm" /> | rev5 = ''Uncut'' | rev5score = 6/10<ref name="uncut">{{Cite magazine |date=April 2025 |title=Tim Hecker - Shards |magazine=Uncut |last=Dale |first=Jon |page=31}}</ref> }} ''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".<ref name="am" /> Writing for ''MusicOMH'', Sam Shepherd said that the EP was more "cohesive" and "let the listener to create their own interpretations and visualisations".<ref name="omh" /> ''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".<ref name="pf" /> 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".<ref name="pm" /> Jon Dale for ''Uncut'' said that the EP showed Hecker's ability in soundtracks, and that it was "weirdly disembodied".<ref name="uncut" />
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''Shards'' track listing | title1 = Heaven Will Come | length1 = 4:48 | title2 = Morning (Piano Version) | length2 = 4:22 | title3 = Monotone 3 | length3 = 4:18 | title4 = Ice Synth | length4 = 2:45 | title5 = Sars Requiem | length5 = 3:13 | title6 = Joyride Alternate | length6 = 4:05 | title7 = Sunset Key Melt | length7 = 7:36 | total_length = 31:07 }}
==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Tim Hecker}}
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Category:2025 EPs Category:Ambient EPs Category:Tim Hecker albums Category:Kranky (record label) EPs