Marching Forward: Forest Swords.
Like seemingly a lot of my favourite musicians, Forest Swords’ M. Barnes day job is as a graphic designer. However, he has the important advantage over the rest of being British as well as being based in England. Hailing from Liverpool, he makes particularly dubby, atmospheric music that is perfect late-night listening. His influences appear to be the work of Pipedown-favourites Mount Kimbie and James Blake but his music is by no means a work of copying these two artists. Indeed, he takes their music and builds upon on, including instrumentation and vocal samples combined to original effect.
We bring 2 tracks to you today – recently released single ‘Rattling Cage’ and Dagger Paths EP lead track ‘Miarches’. ‘Rattling Cage’ is Forest Swords’ ‘Maybes’ – a track that perfectly showcases his sound and will do a great deal for his profile. ‘Miarches’ starts with James Blake-style vocals, but the similarities end there, the bass, vocal and guitar combination being both sinister and strangely comforting. Download both below.
If you like what you hear, be sure to check out the series of truly astounding videos Forest Swords has created for ‘Rattling Cage’ and ‘Miarches’ on his MySpace, link below. There are also some more videos available here.
+ BONUS
Get to know Forest Swords’ musical tastes a little better with this mixtape, compiled for Gorilla Vs. Bear.
Forest Swords – Gorilla Vs. Bear Mixtape (.zip)
Tracklisting
A Grave With No Name – As The Sun Sets
Barrington Levy – Here I Come
Arch M – Mountain Tan
Antelope – Concentration
Erykah Badu – On & On (Arthur’s StarCayzer Remix)
Yoga – Dreamcast
Jeru The Damaja – My Mind Spray
These New Puritans – Canticle
Forest Swords – Visits (Excerpt)
Ducktails – Gem
Liars – You, Drum
King Tubby – Dub Of Righteousness
Forest Swords – Miarches (Remastered)
Forest Swords – The Light (Excerpt)
Madlib – Lifetime Lifeline
Wild Beasts – Hooting & Howling (Forest Swords Rework)
Pariah – Blackfriars
Burial & Four Tet – Moth (Forest Swords Rework)
Buy ‘Rattling Cage’/'Hjurt’ 7″ here
Buy Dagger Paths EP here
Forest Swords MySpace
