Matthew Barnes has finally finished recording the third Forest Swords album. It has been three years since the release of the highly acclaimed “Engravings” (Tri Angle, 2013) and expectations for his new material and live show remain sky-high. At this moment in time information is still limited: we do know that he has recorded several passages of strings, vocal parts and a wind section for the album, and that his transition to live will be supported by scenic and visual elements (his compositions effortlessly evoke images) created especially for the occasion.

The incredibly talented Barnes has released the “Dagger Paths” EP (2010), the single “Rattled Cage” (2010) and the LP “Engravings”, in addition to the music created for the dance piece “Shrine”, which came out in the summer of 2016. Each of these works is thoughtful and exceptionally well produced, discovering an unprecedented territory between ambient, ancestral folk and slowed down techno-dub. If we take into account the quality of everything he has made to date, his concert at SonarHall is expected to be one of Sónar by Day’s high points.

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