On Kings and Queens, Jake Carter under the name .foundation joins Swedish cellist and composer Henrik Meierkord for a collaboration grounded in patience and depth. Issued by Le Mont Analogue as LMA 06, the EP inhabits the language of ambient and drone while expanding it through tactile instrumentation. Granular synthesis, field recordings, and sustained tonal structures establish a vast sonic terrain, while cello and violin introduce breath and contour. The interplay between electronics and strings shapes a work that is deeply intimate.
.foundation begins from a core tonal base, allowing layers to accumulate through resampling and generative processes. Drones extend in slow arcs, gradually revealing harmonic detail without abrupt gesture. Movement occurs through subtle modulation rather than sharp contrast, sustaining immersion without stagnation. The compositions evolve through density and restraint, with harmony woven directly into the texture. The architecture remains immersive yet fluid, guided by attentive construction rather than spectacle.
Meierkord’s strings transform the atmosphere with understated authority. His cello and violin do not sit atop the drones but merge with them, at times dissolving into the electronic mass and at other moments emerging with quiet clarity. Drawing from ambient and neoclassical traditions, his playing introduces warmth and human presence. The bowed tones carry a reflective gravity that deepens the surrounding abstraction, grounding the work in lived resonance.
The physical editions mirror the care embedded in the music. A lacquer cut factory pressed vinyl in dark blue marbled colour arrives in hand stamped kraft sleeves, alongside thoughtfully assembled cassette editions. Kay Nielsen’s 1914 illustration from East of the Sun and West of the Moon graces the cover, reinforcing the sense of myth and atmosphere. Kings and Queens sustains attention through subtle development and tonal richness, offering a contemplative expanse where drone and strings coexist in careful equilibrium. This deeply human release marks another crowning achievement for Le Mont Analogue.
Kings and Queens by .foundation & Henrik Meierkord releases 20th Feb 2026 on Le Mont Analogue
