Mountains

Mountains is the Brooklyn-based duo of Koen Holtkamp and Brendon Anderegg, central figures in the 21st-century ambient and post-rock landscape. Formed in the late 1990s after the pair met at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the project is defined by its hybrid approach to instrumentation.

They utilize a 'process-oriented' composition style where acoustic guitar loops, harmoniums, and field recordings are processed through digital and modular systems in real-time. This technique blurs the line between folk-derived melodicism and avant-garde electronic exploration. Their tenure on the Thrill Jockey label cemented their status as leaders of the 'pastoral ambient' movement, bridging the gap between the minimalist drone of artists like Stars of the Lid and the more rhythmic, guitar-centric textures of the Kranky Records roster. Critically, they are lauded for their ability to maintain a human, 'hand-played' feel within highly complex electronic arrangements. Their work often explores the intersection of sound and visual art, with Holtkamp frequently incorporating film into their live performances.