About Forest Swords
Matthew Edward Barnes, known by his stage name Forest Swords, is an English record producer, composer, DJ, and artist. As of 2024, he has released three studio albums, two EPs, and several scores for film, television, and video games.
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. It received an 8.4 rating on music website Pitchfork and was No. 48 on their Albums of the Year list. It was rated 9/10 on music website Drowned in Sound, called "one of 2010's finest underground records" by NME, and chosen as a 'Hidden Gem of 2010' in The Guardian.
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. Stereogum rated it at number 37 in their best albums of 2013 list, Wire Magazine ranked it at number 35, Pitchfork at number 34, Clash Magazine rated it at number 21, Dummy Magazine at number 16, and Tiny Mix Tapes at number 10.
The video for "Thor's Stone" was directed by Dave Ma and made available online in September 2013. It featured Spanish dancer Guzman Rosado. A remix by dub artist Lee Scratch Perry was posted online in November.
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.
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. The track "The Highest Flood" had previously been released as a standalone digital single.
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