Alex Ward is a clarinettist, guitarist and composer based in London. Besides his work in free improvisation with musicians such as John Edwards, Dominic Lash, Thurston Moore, Joe Morris and Steve Noble, and his performance roles in groups including The Duck Baker Trio, This Is Not This Heat and The Flying Luttenbachers, he leads his own ensembles Forebrace, Items 4 & 10 and The Alex Ward Quintet, and plays guitar, sings and co-writes the material for the avant rock duo Dead Days Beyond Help.

Gated, released by Discus Music, was conceived and realised over an eight month period of intense solitary work.