Ed Sheeran, “- (Subtract).”

It’s a good thing Ed Sheeran wasn’t forced into self-imposed exile, or fans might never have heard his sixth album, – (Subtract). The 14-song set cuts to the core of the artist’s sensibility as a songwriter, often leaving songs to just his voice and acoustic guitar. That was part of the plan, with Sheeran writing about mounting grief.

He teamed with the National’s Aaron Dessner, an artist who’s helped bring out the best in others’ vulnerable creative and personal states. As with Dessner’s other projects, Taylor Swift’s folklore is an apt frame of reference.

While some tracks are more involved than others, Ed Sheeran by and large leaves the Top 40 hooks at home on Subtract. There are no slick and funky beats or quick rhymes here. What’s gained is perspective and a honesty in song-craft that seeps through his lyrics.

“So tell me how/ How our life goes on with you gone/ I suppose I sink like a stone/ If you leave me now,” he sings on “Life Goes On.”

Sheeran experienced a rapid-fire succession of tragedy that fed into depression, from the discovery of his wife’s cancer to the sudden unexpected death of a close friend. Then he was taken to court, accused of stealing from Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” (of which he was acquitted on the same day he released this record).

With each road bump, Sheeran found solace

“They say all scars will heal, but I know maybe I won’t/ But the waves won’t break my boat,” he sings on stark opener “Boat.”

It’s that type of sentiment that elevates Subtract. He bottles up those feelings and turn them into positive or hopeful. It turns would could be a downer of a record into a place to reset toward.

It’s a 180-degree turnaround from 2021’s = (Equals), which was built on soaring pop construction and memorable hooks. This time around, Ed Sheeran also steers clear of guest artists. The album and writing comes from his singular perspective.

The closest to a traditional pop track is slow-grooving “Dusty,” where Sheeran sings of playing vinyl records with his daughter early in the morning. The song has a quiet repeating loop with some light guitar accompaniment. The intimate feeling of Subtract songs like this one must have left an impression on Sheeran. In the midst of an already-announced stadium tour spectacle, the singer will play some intimate club shows that should lend themselves to the acoustic storytelling of this album.

While Subtract may not have an upbeat song of the summer, there are plenty of Sheeran’s signature love stories to go around.

“Just dancing with my eyes closed/ ‘Cause everywhere I look, I still see you/ And time is moving slow,” Sheeran sings on melodic and percussive anthem “Eyes Closed,” which was produced by Max Martin.

The optimism shines through on “Curtains,” about overcoming the spectacular risks of pressing froward. To close out the record, Sheeran pays homage to a small Scottish town on “The Hills of Aberfeldy.”

This album resonates so well in part because of its honesty. Sheeran bares his heart with authenticity. His voice occasionally strains as he relives prior experiences in song. “Spark” is a bit of an outlier; a piano-driven balled high on vocal melody.

The acoustic, wavy sounds of Subtract draw listeners away from the noise of urban living to a simpler more personal reflection. It’s not the kind of album Sheeran could pull off every time, but as a one-off, the record covers some heavy territory and leaves you feeling better on the other side.

Follow writer Mike DeWald at Twitter.com/mike_dewald.