{{short description|2013 album by Forest Swords}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = Engravings | type = studio | artist = [[Forest Swords]] | cover = Engravings (album).jpg | alt = | released = 26 August 2013 | recorded = 2011–2013 | venue = | studio = | genre = {{hlist|[[Experimental music|Experimental]]|[[Electronic music|electronic]]|[[Dub music|dub]]}} | length = 50:43 | label = [[Tri Angle Records|Tri Angle]] | producer = Matthew Barnes | prev_title = [[Dagger Paths]] | prev_year = 2010 | next_title = [[Compassion (Forest Swords album)|Compassion]] | next_year = 2017 }}
'''''Engravings''''' is the debut studio album by English music producer Matthew Barnes under the stage name [[Forest Swords]]. It was released on 26 August 2013 by [[Tri Angle (record label)|Tri Angle]].
==Background== Uniquely, ''Engravings'' was mixed on headphones outdoors on Thurstaston Hill in [[The Wirral]], which Barnes credits as giving the album a natural and atmospheric sound.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/13256-forest-swords-interview-engravings|title=The Lay Of The Land: Forest Swords Interviewed|website=[[The Quietus]]|last=Clay|first=Joe|date=3 September 2013|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref> The recording of the album was only possible in short bursts as he was affected by hearing problems, which both delayed the completion of the album and contributed to the minimal nature of the arrangements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2013/08/28/interview-forest-swords|title=Interview: Forest Swords|website=[[The Fader]]|last=Hockley-Smith|first=Sam|date=28 August 2013|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref>
Brighton, UK vocalist Anneka provides vocals on the track "Anneka's Battle".<ref name="ra"/>
==Release== On 18 July 2013, Barnes announced the release of ''Engravings'' and posted the track "The Weight of Gold" to his [[SoundCloud]] page. It was later named "Best New Track" by ''Pitchfork''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/15752-forest-swords-the-weight-of-gold/|title=Listen to "The Weight of Gold" by Forest Swords|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|last=Fallon|first=Patrick|date=18 July 2013|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref> Previously, "Thor's Stone" had been shared in June 2013 but without mention of the album release.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/51062-listen-forest-swords-thors-stone/|title=Listen: Forest Swords: "Thor's Stone"|first=Jenn|last=Pelly|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=6 June 2013|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref>
The video for "Thor's Stone" was directed by Dave Ma and was online in September 2013, featuring Spanish dancer Guzman Rosado.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nowness.com/story/forest-swords-thors-stone|title=Forest Swords: Thor's Stone|website=[[Nowness]]|date=27 September 2013|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref>
A video for "The Weight of Gold" directed by French dancer and choreographer [[Benjamin Millepied]] was posted online in February 2014, featuring dancer Billy Barry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nowness.com/story/forest-swords-the-weight-of-gold|title=Forest Swords: The Weight of Gold|website=[[Nowness]]|last=Millepied|first=Benjamin|date=20 February 2014|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref>
A remix of "Thor's Stone" by dub artist [[Lee Scratch Perry]] was posted online in November 2013.<ref name="pitchfork.com">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/53148-listen-lee-scratch-perry-remixes-forest-swords-thors-stone/ |title=Listen: Lee "Scratch" Perry Remixes Forest Swords' "Thor's Stone" |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=27 November 2013|last=Battan|first=Carrie |accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Album ratings | ADM = 8.0/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/5769/Forest-Swords-Engravings.aspx|title=Engravings by Forest Swords reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|accessdate=30 December 2019}}</ref> | MC = 81/100<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/engravings/forest-swords|title=Reviews for Engravings by Forest Swords|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|accessdate=27 April 2019}}</ref> | rev1 = ''[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]'' | rev1Score = 9/10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/forest-swords-engravings|title=Forest Swords – Engravings|last=Diver|first=Mike|work=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|date=16 August 2013|accessdate=27 April 2019}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' | rev2Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2013/08/album-review-forest-swords-engravings/|title=Album Review: Forest Swords – Engravings|work=[[Consequence of Sound]]|date=27 August 2013|access-date=27 April 2019|last=Kivel|first=Adam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829222807/http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/08/album-review-forest-swords-engravings/|archive-date=29 August 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Exclaim!]]'' | rev3Score = 8/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/forest_swords-engravings|title=Forest Swords: Engravings|work=[[Exclaim!]]|date=26 August 2013|accessdate=27 April 2019|last=Mertens|first=Max}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]'' | rev4Score = 4/5<ref name="fact">{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2013/08/22/forest-swords-engravings/|title=Engravings|work=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]|date=22 August 2013|accessdate=27 April 2019|last=Kalev|first=Maya|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601104756/http://www.factmag.com/2013/08/22/forest-swords-engravings/|archivedate=1 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[Mixmag]]'' | rev5Score = 4.5/5<ref name="Mixmag, August 2013">{{cite journal|title=Forest Swords: Engravings|journal=[[Mixmag]]|date=August 2013}}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[NME]]'' | rev6Score = 7/10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/forest-swords/14710|title=Forest Swords – 'Engravings'|work=[[NME]]|date=20 August 2013|accessdate=27 April 2019|last=Hutchinson|first=Kate|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831011059/http://www.nme.com/reviews/forest-swords/14710|archivedate=31 August 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev7 = ''[[The Observer]]'' | rev7Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/aug/25/forest-swords-engravings-review|title=Forest Swords: Engravings – review|work=[[The Observer]]|date=25 August 2013|accessdate=27 April 2019|last=Hoby|first=Hermione}}</ref> | rev8 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] '' | rev8Score = 8.5/10<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18401-forest-swords-engravings/|title=Forest Swords: Engravings|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=27 August 2013|accessdate=27 April 2019|last=Masters|first=Marc}}</ref> | rev9 = ''[[Resident Advisor]]'' | rev9Score = 4.5/5<ref name="ra">{{cite web|url=http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=13531|title=Forest Swords – Engravings|work=[[Resident Advisor]]|date=26 August 2013|accessdate=27 April 2019|last=Ryce|first=Andrew}}</ref> | rev10 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' | rev10Score = 7/10<ref>{{cite journal|title=Forest Swords: Engravings|journal=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]|issue=198|date=October 2013|page=67}}</ref> }} ''Engravings'' received strong critical reviews on release.<ref name="Metacritic"/> ''[[Mixmag]]'' named ''Engravings'' their album of the month for August 2013 and praised it as "one of the most inventive albums of the year".<ref name="Mixmag, August 2013"/> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' designated the album as "Best New Music" and said, "Every song is boldly sensual, and each note has a distinct emotional hue. Mixing that intensity with dream-like atmospheres lands ''Engravings'' in a unique emotional space".<ref name="ReferenceA"/> ''[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]'' wrote, "If ''Dagger Paths'' was a revelation, ''Engravings'' is a refinement, long to arrive but worth the wait."<ref name="fact"/> ''[[Resident Advisor]]'' deemed it "even more breathtaking" than ''Dagger Paths''.<ref name="ra"/>
''Engravings'' was listed in year-end lists of the best albums of 2013 by several publications, including ''[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]'', ''Pitchfork'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9293-the-top-50-albums-of-2013/?page=2|title=The Top 50 Albums of 2013 - Page 2|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=18 December 2013|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref> ''[[Stereogum]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1567541/the-50-best-albums-of-2013/franchises/list/attachment/forestswords_engravings/|title=Forest Swords – Engravings (Tri Angle)|website=[[Stereogum]]|date=3 December 2013|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref> ''[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/clashs-top-albums-of-2013-30-21|title=Clash's Top Albums Of 2013: 30-21|work=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|last=Diver|first=Mike|date=5 December 2013|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref> ''[[Filter (magazine)|Filter]]'',<ref name="filtermagazine.com">{{cite web|url=http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/news/entry/filters_top_10_of_2013_staff_picks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207072030/http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/news/entry/filters_top_10_of_2013_staff_picks|title=Filter Magazine Top 10 of 2013|archive-date=7 February 2016|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref> ''[[Dummy Mag]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dummymag.com/10-best/the-20-best-albums-of-2013/|title=The 20 best albums of 2013|work=DummyMag|last=Cliff|first=Aimee|date=11 December 2013|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref> [[Bleep.com]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleep.com//the-top-ten-albums-of-the-year-2013|title=The Top Ten Albums of the Year|website=Bleep|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref> ''[[Tiny Mix Tapes]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/2013-favorite-50-albums-of-2013|title=2013: Favorite 50 Albums of 2013|website=Tiny Mix Tapes|date=16 December 2013|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref> Norman Records,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.normanrecords.com/top-fifty-2013.php | title= Norman Records|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref> [[Piccadilly Records]],<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/shop/feature.php?feature=720| title= Piccadilly Records|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref> [[eMusic]],<ref name="filtermagazine.com"/> and [[Napster (streaming music service)|Rhapsody]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://us.napster.com/blog|title=Napster|website=us.napster.com}}</ref>
The album cover artwork, designed by Barnes, was nominated for the award "Best Art Vinyl 2013"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://artvinyl.com/|title=Vinyl Record Frames | Art Vinyl}}</ref> and listed in ''Pitchfork''{{'}}s top 25 album covers of 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9275-the-top-25-album-covers-of-2013/|title=The Top 25 Album Covers of 2013|website=Pitchfork|last=Renaud|first=Michael|date=5 December 2013|accessdate=26 August 2020}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track_listing | all_writing = Matthew Barnes, except where noted | title1 = Ljoss | length1 = 5:19 | title2 = Thor's Stone | length2 = 4:31 | title3 = Irby Tremor | length3 = 4:11 | title4 = Onward | length4 = 5:40 | title5 = The Weight of Gold | length5 = 5:04 | title6 = An Hour | length6 = 5:02 | title7 = Anneka's Battle | note7 = writer: Anneka Warburton | length7 = 4:09 | title8 = Gathering | length8 = 4:59 | title9 = The Plumes | length9 = 3:40 | title10 = Friend, You Will Never Learn | length10 = 8:12 | total_length = 50:43 }}
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for ''Engravings'' ! scope="col" | Chart (2013) ! scope="col" | Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|UKIndependent|30|date=20130901|rowheader=true|access-date=12 March 2025|refname=independent}} |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Discogs master|590719}}
{{Forest Swords}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:2013 debut albums]] [[Category:Forest Swords albums]] [[Category:Tri Angle (record label) albums]]