Synth Single Review: “Grand Enclosure’’ by Retrograth

Retrograth’s Grand Enclosure reflects on the nature of authoritarian rule. The song starts as drifting notes move above an indistinctly floating background. The slipping percussion forms a steady rhythm as sinister bass rumbles and strings oscillate mournfully. Retrograth's distinctive, haunting voice carries a melody that captures the darkness within the words. The rhythm is hard-hitting while the strings add aching softness to the harsh threat in Retrograth's deep voice.

The melody is fragile in comparison to the stomping drums as echoing voices move with authoritarian tones. Round-sounding notes float as Retrograth encapsulates domination and control, commenting on authority’s coercive nature. The strings have a broken quality as Retrograth chants and delicate notes spin out with cobwebby sensations. The battering low end is cut into by a German voice-over, evoking the GDR and what it stood for before the quickly undulating synth shines spectrally.

The vocals are full of shadowy strength and an oboe carries a tender melody, caressing despite the sibilant threat in the lead singer’s voice, before the track ends on gliding strings.

Boldly, the narrator claims, “We are here for your security, we are here to save your souls” and create a utopia for everyone, “joined against the threats from the outside world.” He speaks of bringing bricks and fences to the wall with “freedom kept by mind control, in a still life, in the grand enclosure.”

Our storyteller speaks of “all the strength for the joy of the masses, all the strength for the working class,” along with the strength to “make bread for the people” as they all rose up from the ruins. With ominous weight, he says, “freedom is kept in our safety zone, saved from the threats beyond the wall.”

As the song concludes, the narrator says, “We are trapped inside a nation of disbelief in the grand enclosure.”