by Philip Moss

Through an open letter posted on his website, Oregonian songwriter, M Ward, announced the completion of his new record, Migration Stories, which had been recorded during the winter of 18/19. After teaming up with Arcade Fire pair, Tim Kingsbury and Richard Reed Parry, and producer/mixer, Craig Silvey – the sessions would bring together a collection of songs inspired by the movement of people that he’d read about in the news while on tour in Europe and North America. What the announcement didn’t prepare us for, however, is the subtly stunning record that would soon be upon us.

Ward’s hushed voice has been a mainstay across his two decade plus career, but opener, Migration of Souls, finds him in particularly mesmerising form – ‘Sailing on past / Space and time that’s how I’ll get back to you’ – recalling Jeff Buckley over a warm organ, ambient percussion and plucked acoustic chords.

Despite being influenced by the aforementioned newsreels, the thematic idea of migration and the movement of people does not really come through in the songs. But this does not detract from what is possibly his best ever collection. Arrangements and musical textures serve the songs perfectly – at no point does a musical interlude outstay its welcome or, indeed, leave you yearning for more. Real Silence has a pulsing Spectorism quality, complete with glistening bells and keys, while the album’s most upbeat and embellished number, Unreal City, fizzes along with dystopian synths and an addictive chorus. Given that Ward’s highlighted Kingsbury and Reed Parry’s involvement in such a way, it does beg the question – given the quality of Arcade Fire’s recent output – should Win Butler let his bandmates have more of a say in their next record?

In so many ways, Migration Stories is not too dissimilar to a number of Ward’s nine previous studio records – but then, at the same time, something here also feels wholly different. And it is that inability to pin down and explain exactly what is so engrossing about it that makes it such a special record. My advice: go spend some time with it – and see if you can figure out its enigma out for yourself.

Secret Meeting score: 87

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