Forest Swords

English record producer, composer, and DJ

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Forest Swords

Matthew Barnes (Forest Swords) in 2017

Background information
Birth name| Matthew Edward Barnes[1]
Origin| The Wirral, England
Genres|

* Experimental
* electronic
* dub

Occupations|

* Musician
* record producer
* composer
* DJ

Labels|

* Ninja Tune
* Dense Truth
* No Pain in Pop
* Olde English Spelling Bee
* Tri Angle

Website| forestswords.co.uk

Musical artist

Matthew Edward Barnes, known by his stage name Forest Swords, is an English record producer, composer, DJ, and artist. As of 2025, he has released three studio albums, two EPs, and several scores for film, television, and video games.

## Career

[edit]

### Dagger Paths EP

[edit]

Forest Swords's debut six-track EP, Dagger Paths, was originally released in March 2010, before being reissued later that year with additional tracks. FACT Magazine named it their album of the year.[2] It received an 8.4 rating on music website Pitchfork[3] and was No. 48 on their Albums of the Year list.[4] It was rated 9/10 on music website Drowned in Sound,[5] called "one of 2010's finest underground records" by NME,[6] and chosen as a 'Hidden Gem of 2010' in The Guardian.[7]

### Engravings

[edit]

Forest Swords' debut studio album, Engravings, was released through Tri Angle Records on 26 August 2013. Critical response was unanimously positive, with Pitchfork giving it an 8.5 Best New Music review and Resident Advisor a 4.5/5 review.[8] Stereogum rated it at number 37 in their best albums of 2013 list,[9] Wire Magazine ranked it at number 35, Pitchfork at number 34,[10] Clash Magazine rated it at number 21,[11] Dummy Magazine at number 16,[12] and Tiny Mix Tapes at number 10.[13]

The video for "Thor's Stone" was directed by Dave Ma and made available online in September 2013. It featured Spanish dancer Guzman Rosado.[14] A remix by dub artist Lee Scratch Perry was posted online in November.[15]

A video for "The Weight of Gold", directed by French dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied, was posted online in February 2014 and featured dancer Billy Barry.[16]

### Compassion

[edit]

The second Forest Swords album, Compassion, was released through Ninja Tune on 5 May 2017, with a video and streaming single release of lead track "Arms Out" and a set of worldwide festival and headline tour dates.[17] The track "The Highest Flood" had previously been released as a standalone digital single.[18]

Resident Advisor gave the album a 4.5/5 review, calling it "both sincere and sublime".[19] Fake DIY called it "heart-stopping and thoroughly arresting" in a 4/5 review.[20] DJ Mag gave it 4/5 and called it "a stunning vision, hypnotic". In an 8.5/10 review, The 405 called it "a brilliant album — well worth the four year wait".[21] Q Magazine gave it a strong 4/5 review and said it "unfolds like a journey through a bustling soundscape of found sounds, instrumental loops and post-dubstep production". The Loud & Quiet review stated the album is "arresting in its austerity" in an 8/10 review.[22] Pitchfork rated the album at 7.8; "more ambitious and varied while retaining the uncanniness he's known for".[23] PopMatters gave it a score of 8, saying, "A dazzling, evocative album that acts as the perfect soundtrack to the precarious times we live in".[24] AV Club called it "passionately realized" in an A− review.[25] Clash gave it an 8 out of 10 review, describing it as "wordless protest music that impresses with its sheer thematic ambition".[26] Exclaim! awarded it 8/10, saying, "the goosebumps will cover most of your body".[27] Sputnikmusic gave the album a 4.5 out of 5 'superb' rating, describing it as "nothing short of breathtaking".[28] Gigsoup praised Compassion's "beautiful strings and rolling percussion" in an 86% review.[29] In an 8 out of 10 review, Soundblab claimed Barnes has "developed a whole new language/style that other electronic musicians should be eager to take note of".[30] The Age rated Compassion 4.5 out of 5, calling it "triumphant".[31] It was Album of the Week on BBC 6Music and Bleep.[32]

A single, featuring two tracks from the Compassion recording sessions—"Congregate" and "Free"—was released later that year, with all proceeds going to relief work in Mexico and Puerto Rico.[33]

### Bolted

[edit]

On 11 July 2023, Barnes released a new single, "Butterfly Effect", through the Ninja Tune label. It was his first new material in five years and featured a previously unheard vocal sample from musician Neneh Cherry.[34] His third album, Bolted, was announced in September 2023 and released on 20 October. The announcement was accompanied by two new tracks, "The Low" and "Caged".[35]

The album has received positive reviews, including a 9/10 rating from The Line of Best Fit,[36] 82% from Beats Per Minute,[37] a review calling it "absolutely phenomenal" by The Quietus,[38] 4/5 from AllMusic,[39] and 8/10 from Clash magazine.[40]

### DJ-Kicks compilation and mixes

[edit]

Barnes has created mixes for Fact, Unsound Festival, and Dazed, the last of which featured exclusive remixes of tracks by Björk and Anohni.[41]

In 2018, Forest Swords curated and released a 27-track DJ-Kicks compilation through !K7 Records. The collection "draws a line between past inspirations and his current peers" and features one exclusive Forest Swords track called "Crow", as well as songs from artists like Dead Can Dance, Orbital, Laurel Halo, and Mira Calix. The album artwork was also designed by Forest Swords.[42]

### Remixes and production

[edit]

Forest Swords has created remixes for Björk, Anohni, These New Puritans, Wild Beasts, and Gold Panda, amongst others. In 2012, he co-produced and co-wrote the single "Cold Nites" for How to Dress Well, from the album Total Loss,[43] and went on to produce Barbadian rapper Haleek Maul's track "Lobo".[44] Dyymond of Durham, a one-off collaborative project with Bavarian fine artist Otto Baerst, released a track on No Pain in Pop's vinyl compilation The Bedroom Club II.[45]

In April 2014, Forest Swords recorded a BBC Radio 1 live session at Maida Vale Studios for Benji B.[46]

Forest Swords co-produced the opening track on Ellie Goulding's 2020 album, Brightest Blue, featuring vocalist Serpentwithfeet.

### Original composition and scoring work

[edit]

In 2014, Barnes was commissioned to produce the trailer music for Ubisoft's video game title Assassin's Creed Rogue.[47]

In 2015, the artist collaborated with Robert Del Naja from Massive Attack and Young Fathers on the score for La Fête (est Finie), a short film about climate change.[48]

In 2016, Forest Swords released Shrine, the soundtrack for an original contemporary dance piece. The dance performance was streamed via Boiler Room and has toured European festivals, such as ReWire in The Hague.[49]

In 2019, it was announced that Barnes had completed the soundtrack for the documentary film Ghosts of Sugar Land, directed by Bassam Tariq. The film won the Best Documentary Short award at the Sundance Film Festival, was nominated for the 2020 Academy Awards shortlist in the Documentary Short category, and was subsequently bought by Netflix.[50][51]

Forest Swords composed the original soundtrack for The Machine Air, a film by director Liam Young, which was released in December 2019 through the Dense Truth label. The press release called the project "part art film, part performance piece" and "the first film to be both about and recorded by flying drones".[52] The film originally premiered at the BFI Imax in Waterloo, London for the BFI London Film Festival.[53]

In 2020, Barnes composed music for islands, a dance piece choreographed by Emma Portner and performed by members of the Norwegian National Ballet. It premiered at the Oslo Opera House as part of the Norwegian National Ballet Festival.[54]

Barnes composed music for the Ghost Light exhibition at NAK in Aachen, Germany in 2021 by artist Thomas Dosal, a 28-audio channel and light installation using manipulated audio ripped from the artist's smartphone.[55]

Also in 2021, he collaborated with Liam Young once more on a quadraphonic original score for the documentary film installation Planet City for the NGV arts institution in Melbourne, Australia.[56]

In 2022, he composed the original score for the documentary film Dogwatch, by Greek filmmaker Gregory Rentis.[57]

Barnes composed and performed the original soundtrack for the 2022 adventure video game As Dusk Falls, developed by Interior Night and published by Xbox Game Studios. Rolling Stone wrote that the game "features one of the best musical scores we've ever heard".[58]

In 2023, he wrote the original score for the film Stephen by visual artist Melanie Manchot.[59]

Barnes composed original music for an opera production of the Greek tragedy Fedra, directed by Paul Curran, performed at the Teatro Greco in Syracuse, Italy, in 2024.[60]

### Artwork

[edit]

Matthew Barnes is also a graphic designer, with work featured in Creative Review, Grafik, and Dazed & Confused.[61][62] He has mentioned in interviews that design and visual art are key influencers to his music.[63] A special edition of the Engravings album is available with an additional twenty-page booklet of Barnes' original photography.[62] The cover artwork, designed by the artist himself, was selected for Art Vinyl's 2013 Best Art Award,[64] and Pitchfork included it in their top 25 album covers of 2013.[65]

In 2011, at the Abandon Normal Devices festival, three new pieces, as part of a site-specific sound installation called Ground Rhythms,[66] were cut to 12" X-ray film and performed on turntables at an event in Liverpool.[67] The pieces were inspired by three architectural sites from Merseyside history that no longer exist, and the tracks on the brittle X-ray pressings were designed to be "played once only before degrading, never to be played again".[68] The final copy of the X-ray vinyl was sold in December 2013 on eBay, with all proceeds going to the Philippines Typhoon Appeal.[69] A second performance in the series took place at the AV Festival in Newcastle in 2012, inspired by demolished buildings in the northeast.[70]

## Critical reception

[edit]

In 2010, Pitchfork Media posted an article suggesting Barnes was part of a new generation of producer/composers, alongside James Blake, Mount Kimbie, Bon Iver, Burial, and Four Tet.[71] A 2013 feature on The FADER website placed the Forest Swords project as a unique and contemporary strain of dub music, "worth endless listens, endless re-examinations, endless re-contextualizing", and stated that it "exists in that sweet spot of musical influence between everything and nothing".[72]

## Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

* Engravings (2013)
* Compassion (2017)
* Bolted (2023)

Original scoring

* Shrine: Original Dance Score (2016)
* The Machine Air: Original Score (2019)

EPs

* Fjree Feather (2009)
* Dagger Paths (2010)

Singles

* "Rattling Cage" (2010)
* "Congregate/Free" (2017)
* "Butterfly Effect" (2023)
* "Torch / Pearl of Hail" (2024)

Curated compilations

* Forest Swords – DJ-Kicks (2018)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "AGITATION". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
2. ^ "The 40 Best Albums of 2010 – FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". Factmag.com. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
3. ^ "Forest Swords: Dagger Paths [Expanded Edition] | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
4. ^ "Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2010 | Features". Pitchfork. 16 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
5. ^ Gibb, Rory (1 December 2010). "Album Review: Forest Swords – Dagger Paths / Releases / Releases // Drowned in Sound". Drownedinsound.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
6. ^ "Dagger Paths by Forest Swords reviews". Any Decent Music. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
7. ^ "Hidden gems of 2010: the pop, world and jazz CDs you may have missed | Music | The Observer". Guardian. 19 December 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
8. ^ "Engravings by Forest Swords reviews". Any Decent Music. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
9. ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2013 Forest Swords – Engravings (Tri Angle) – Stereogum". Stereogum.com. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
10. ^ "The Top 50 Albums of 2013". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
11. ^ "Clash's Top Albums of 2013: 30–21 | Features | Clash Magazine". Clashmusic.com. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
12. ^ Bulut, Selim (14 June 2013). "The 20 best albums of 2013 | Dummy". Dummymag.com. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
13. ^ "2013: Favorite 50 Albums of 2013 | Staff Feature | Tiny Mix Tapes | Page 5". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
14. ^ "Nowness". Nowness.com. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
15. ^ "Listen: Lee "Scratch" Perry Remixes Forest Swords' "Thor's Stone" | News". Pitchfork. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
16. ^ "Nowness". Nowness.com. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
17. ^ "Forest Swords Announces New Album *Compassion*, Shares Video for New Track: Watch". Pitchfork.com. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
18. ^ "Forest Swords returns with first new music in four years – hear 'The Highest Flood'". Factmag.com. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
19. ^ "RA Reviews: Forest Swords - Compassion on Ninja Tune (Album)". Residentadvisor.net. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
20. ^ "Forest Swords - Compassion | DIY". Diymag.com. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
21. ^ Joni Roome (8 May 2017). "Album Review: Forest Swords - Compassion". Thefourohfive.com. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
22. ^ Reef Younis. "Forest Swords - Compassion - Album review". Loud And Quiet. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
23. ^ Nathan Reese (6 May 2017). "Compassion Album Review". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
24. ^ "Forest Swords: Compassion". PopMatters.com. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
25. ^ Fredette, Meagan (5 May 2017). "Perfume Genius, Forest Swords, Black Lips, and more in this week's music reviews · Music Review · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
26. ^ "Forest Swords - Compassion | Reviews | Clash Magazine". Clashmusic.com. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
27. ^ Ellman, Peter (3 May 2017). "Forest Swords Compassion". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
28. ^ "Forest Swords - Compassion (album review )". Sputnikmusic.com. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
29. ^ "Forest Swords 'Compassion' - GIGsoup". Gigsoupmusic.com. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
30. ^ "Forest Swords - Compassion - Albums - Reviews". Soundblab.com. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
31. ^ "Album reviews: Broads, Forest Swords, Strangers, Clowns and Colin Stetson". Theage.com.au. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
32. ^ "Forest Swords - Compassion - Ninja Tune - Bleep - Your Source for Independent Music - Download MP3, WAV and FLAC, Buy Vinyl, CD and Merchandise". Bleep.com. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
33. ^ "Forest Swords releases new single in aid of relief work in Mexico and Puerto Rico". 28 September 2017.
34. ^ "Forest Swords Shares Video for First New Song in 5 Years: Watch". pitchfork.com. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
35. ^ "Forest Swords Announces First Album Since 2017, Shares New Video: Watch". pitchfork.com. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
36. ^ "Forest Swords' Bolted worships at the altar of industry with invigorating impact". thelineofbestfit.com. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
37. ^ "Album Review: Forest Swords – Bolted". beatsperminute.com. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
38. ^ "Forest Swords – Bolted". thequietus.com. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
39. ^ "Bolted – Forest Swords". allmusic.com. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
40. ^ "Forest Swords – Bolted". clashmusic.com. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
41. ^ Dazed (6 April 2017). "Forest Swords goes foraging in vast new Dazed Mix". Dazed. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
42. ^ "FOREST SWORDS". DJ-Kicks. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
43. ^ "How To Dress Well – Cold Nites | ABEANO | Page 5430". ABEANO. 29 July 2011. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
44. ^ "Stream: Haleek Maul, "Lobo" (Prod. by Forest Swords)". The Fader. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
45. ^ "New Forest Swords project to feature on No Pain in Pop's Bedroom Club II compilation – FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". Factmag.com. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
46. ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Benji B, Forest Swords in session, Forest Swords in session". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
47. ^ "Forest Swords soundtracks Assassin's Creed: Rogue trailer - FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". Factmag.com. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
48. ^ "La Fête (est Finie) on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
49. ^ "Forest Swords "Shrine" – Boiler Room". Boilerroom.tv. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
50. ^ Kroll, Justin (14 February 2019). "Netflix Acquires Sundance Documentary 'Ghosts of Sugar Land' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
51. ^ "92nd Oscars Shortlists". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
52. ^ "The Machine Air (Original Film Soundtrack), by Forest Swords". Forestswords.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
53. ^ "Buy cinema tickets for Liam Young & Forest Swords present In The Robot Skies | BFI London Film Festival 2016". Whatson.bfi.org. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
54. ^ "A Night of Dance x 12". Operaen.no.
55. ^ "Ghost Light — Neuer Aachener Kunstverein".
56. ^ "Planet City". liamyoung.org. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
57. ^ "'Dogwatch' Review: An Alluring Abstract of Seafaring Mercenary Life". variety.com. 10 April 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
58. ^ "'As Dusk Falls' Is a Choice-Based Game That Features One of the Best Musical Scores We've Ever Heard". rollingstone.com. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
59. ^ "Stephen review – a breathtakingly good first feature by a multi-media artist". theartsdesk.com. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
60. ^ "Fedra: Ippolito portatore di corona". indafondazione.org. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
61. ^ "Forest Swords: "I nearly gave up making music"". SevenStreets.com. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
62. ^ a b "Forest Swords's Epic Engravings | Dazed". Dazeddigital.com. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
63. ^ "Interview: Forest Swords". The Fader. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
64. ^ "2013 Best Art Vinyl Nominations". Bestartvinyl.com. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
65. ^ Renaud, Michael (5 December 2013). "The Top 25 Album Covers of 2013". Pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
66. ^ "Forest Swords". Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
67. ^ "Forest Swords To Record New Music | News | Clash Magazine". Clashmusic.com. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
68. ^ Nathan Jones (26 November 2010). "Samizdat on Forest Swords' – Ground Rhythms *newMERCYcomission* Mercy : Design Agency, Literature & Arts Collective : London / Liverpool : UK". Mercyonline.co.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
69. ^ "Forest Swords Auctions Special, One of a Kind Record For Charity | News | DIY". Thisisfakediy.co.uk. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
70. ^ "Various Artists: The Time is Out of Joint ‹ Events & Exhibitions ‹ AV Festival 12: As Slow As Possible ‹ Programme ‹ AV Festival". Avfestival.co.uk. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
71. ^ "Articles: New Vocabulary | Features". Pitchfork. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
72. ^ "Freak Scene: Forest Swords and the Shifting Idea of Dub". The Fader. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Forest Swords discography at Discogs
* IMDB page for scoring work
* Early interview with FACT Magazine
* Interview and art feature at Dazed
* Live session on the BBC Radio One Benji B show

* v
* t
* e

Forest Swords

Studio albums|

* Engravings (2013)
* Compassion (2017)
* Bolted (2023)

EPs|

* Dagger Paths (2010)

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

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