Koen Holtkamp finds a new rhythm for his latest single: “Northern Flicker”
For more than two decades, Koen Holtkamp has been quietly stretching the boundaries between ambient, experimental, and electroacoustic music. Best known as one half of Mountains, his solo work has always had a strong sense of place… music that feels less like a fixed object and more like something unfolding around you.
His latest track, “Northern Flicker,” continues that idea, but with a little more movement in its step. A light, pitter-patter rhythm keeps the track gently pushing forward while saxophonist Matt Bauder drifts through the mix with something darker and more unsettled. The contrast works beautifully: part pastoral daydream, part late-night city haze.
That tension makes even more sense when you consider where Holtkamp’s new album, Nightlife, came together. After leaving Brooklyn to move to the Hudson Valley in Upstate New York, he found himself surrounded by more space, more nature, and a noticeably slower pace of life. That change of scenery seems to have opened up his music too, giving the compositions room to breathe while nudging them towards looser, more song-like shapes.
Holtkamp also brings a few longtime experimental heavyweights along for the ride. Drummer Greg Fox and Bauder contribute extensively across the record, while Ben Vida makes an appearance on synth bass. Rather than simply decorating the tracks, their playing seems woven into the actual architecture of the album, giving Holtkamp’s detailed sound worlds a more organic pulse.
“Northern Flicker” is a lovely introduction to the upcoming album. It’s intricate without feeling fussy… Atmospheric without disappearing completely into the mist.
Nightlife is out October 9, via Western Vinyl. Pre-order the album here.
Koen Holtkamp – Northern Flicker
