‘Compassion’ is the work of Matthew Barnes, his first long player under the evocative alias of Forest Swords. In fact that name gives clues to how the music will progress, for there is plenty of cut and thrust to the rhythm as well as a compelling, dark depth to the production. When you listen to this music it fees like Barnes’ life depends on it, for it is emotionally intense, rhythmically quite complex and the orchestrations are vividly worked. Nowhere is this more evident than in the sparkling glass chimes he uses on ‘Panic’, which give way to a darker anxiety, or the wider space of ‘Arms Out’, with big reverb and a more primal approach to percussion and vocals. Barnes is definitely one to watch, and ‘Compassion’ is a work of dark but really positive energy.
Ben Hogwood
4 out of 5
