Koen Holtkamp
's majestic solo recordings under his own name have blended field recordings with abstract droning, and constructed dense tapestries using guitar static and analog synth textures. He debuted his
Beast
project in 2017 with two simultaneously issued LPs containing music designed for audio-visual performances involving 3D laser projections. While sonically recognizable as
Holtkamp
's music, the compositions were his most accessible to date, with a much greater rhythmic focus and forward momentum.
Ens
is the third
album, and the first to appear on
Thrill Jockey
, longtime home of both
and
Mountains
, his duo with
Brendon Anderegg
. Recorded as
was anticipating the birth of his first child,
is heartfelt, joyful, and full of wonder. More accessible than anything he's done previously, the album mixes playful drum machine rhythms with astral synth arpeggios and scattered yet melodic notes. The music has more in common with minimalism, '80s synth pop, Fourth World fusion, and even downtempo IDM than
's other recordings. "Color Feel" is centered around cascading pianos and synths, and while there's a constant loop of a whistling tone that sounds like a descending bomb, somehow it doesn't derail the uplifting nature of the track. The
Oliver Coates
-like "Staren" is a bit more oblong, with sharply bowed strings joined by rapidly plucked ones, and a slower, more complex beat thumping behind all of this. "For Otto" is the clear, resonating comedown, with a slow yet detailed beat and pastoral synths, ending with a lovely sequence of shimmering waves. Supremely joyous and creative,
feels like the beginning of a new chapter for
, and it's one of his most enjoyable works. ~ Paul Simpson