UK producer Forest Swords fuses elements of hip hop, dub, R&B and techno to create a sound that is both minimal and organic in nature, yet still clearly the sum of its parts. The songs are driven by their percussive elements: wooden clacks and rattling, syncopated drones or a chopped-up beat which lends its own rhythm. At times the sound can be dense and claustrophobic, however the songs have the ability to dilate into something more expansive, sometimes led in that direction by a carefully chosen vocal sample.
Although the songs are largely instrumental, the record’s cover art is quite telling of the producer’s worldview – or at least his aesthetic sense. The artwork features a weathered-looking man on his back in the dirt, balancing the weight of a boulder with his legs and arms. One particular highlight is Panic, where a pleading vocal repeats, “I fear something is wrong/Panic is on.” While this record is not all doom and gloom, it’s certainly a contemplative and moody one, and it will only benefit from repeated listens. Take it for a walk late at night, and let it sink in.
