2011's Prematurely Most Preeminent: Tim Hecker

While serving in Germany during World War II, Fluxus artist Al Hansen pushed a piano off of the roof of a five story building, an act which would later become the foundation of one of his most popular performance pieces, the Yoko Ono Piano Drop, a piece that would be mimicked often, including one instance between several college students in 1972.  Such is the sentiment (and album cover) of Tim Hecker's sixth full length recording, Ravedeath, 1972, featuring the opening track, "The Piano Drop," alongside other anti-song titles such as "The Hatred of Music" and "No Drums."  Cooperating with other electronic composer-god Ben Frost (and in tracks like "In the Air," shit gets pretty Frosty), Hecker has completed his masterpiece.  The pulsating fire of damaged symphonic swells that have become his signature are perfected with the primary instrument being an organ of a church in Iceland (Frost's hometown these days).  The record as a whole, as a concept, as a commentary, as a progression of decaying music, is absolutely perfect.
And so the year is looking bright for music thus far, what with an amazing LP from Deerhoof (available on cassette from Joyful Noise), the upcoming new Danielson record (also available on cassette from Joyful noise), that Zs remix record,  and as of tomorrow, the day of love, the release of the record of the year, Tim Hecker's Ravedeath, 1972.  I know, it's only February, but Jesus Christ.