Recording information: Montreal, Canada (03/2008-05/2008).

Electronica artist Tim Hecker's 2006 album, HARMONY IN ULTRAVIOLET, received a fair bit of critical attention for its experimental ambient soundscapes. AN IMAGINARY COUNTRY, released in 2009, refines the direction of that album, pushing the listener deeper into dense, lush atmospheres that balance synth washes with feedback and processed noise. On cuts like "100 Years Ago" and "Currents of Electrostasy," Hecker designs soundscapes that can be both invitingly subtle and overwhelmingly powerful. It's the push-and-pull between these two extremes that makes AN IMAGINARY COUNTRY such an enjoyable ride.