The alias of Merseyside, UK-based producer Matthew Barnes, Forest Swords has steadily emerged as one of the most exciting artists exploring the darker magnetic fringes of exploratory electronic music, folding numerous genres into his own undefinable sound since debuting in 2009 and unleashing early EPs on No Pain in Pop and Olde English Spelling Bee. Following an excellent debut 2013 album on Tri Angle Records, his recent sophomore album Compassion marked his debut for renowned UK label Ninja Tune, providing another showcase of his evolving, enveloping soundscapes that continue to captivate. His special guest DJ set for Midnight in a Perfect World is as unpredictable as his own music, blending together some of his own darkly-lit amorphous soundscapes alongside expertly curated hidden gems that range from neo-classical to ambient, synth-wave to disco, cerebral jazz to cutting-edge club rhythms.
| Artist | Song |
| Midnight in a Perfect World | Intro |
| Sophia Loizou | Glimpses of Death |
| Kelly Lee Owens | CBM |
| Arthur Russell | Wax The Van |
| The Dave Brubeck Quartet | Koto Song |
| Code Walk | Guess What |
| Forest Swords | The Highest Flood |
| Peder Mannerfelt | Building of the Mountain |
| Marie Davidson | Naive To The Bone |
| Marc Ponthus | Mists |
| Visible Cloaks | Terrazzo |
| Africa Hitech | Cyclic Sun |
| Fatima al Qadiri | Hainan Island |
| Forest Swords | Panic |
| Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith | Stratus |
| Evans Pyramid | Never Gonna Leave You |
| Midnight in a Perfect World | Outro |
Midnight in a Perfect World, KEXP's weekly hour-long guest DJ show, airs Fridays at midnight. This multi-genre program features eclectic sets by a rotating cast of international and local DJ’s, each building upon a party vibe to kick off your weekend. Midnight in a perfect world is made possible with support from New Belgium Brewing.
