The albums by minimal synth/electro pioneer Enzo Kreft are always a response to the social or political situations we are experiencing, and in Dictator, his new work once again offers an incisive critique of our times. The Belgian musician, whom we have mentioned on several occasions, released two very interesting cassettes in the early 1980s (reissued by Valhalla Records a few years ago) and since 2016 has been releasing albums regularly, with highlights including Wasteland, Control and Different World. Continuing with his habit of releasing an album every two years (although in 2023 he also released a compilation called XL), Dictator presents twelve new tracks recorded and produced by Enzo himself. Although the Belgian musician has never disappointed us in recent years, this is undoubtedly one of his best works, as it features excellent compositions accompanied by a detailed production.
Dictator starts with ‘Blindfoldded Liberty’, an unsettling instrumental with a heavy, martial rhythm that immediately draws you into the album’s mood. With ‘Self-Proclaimed Savior of the Nation’, it becomes clear where things are headed. All of the dictator’s lies are accompanied, in this case, by a powerful danceable rhythm and beautiful keyboards. The military rhythms return in ‘Propaganda Parade’, a fun track with incisive lyrics. ‘Citadel of Fear’ is one of the best tracks on the album, with meticulous production and great synthesizers. After the solemnity of the previous track, ‘Chains of Silence’ has a heavy and oppressive sound, like life in a country ruled by censorship. ‘The Iron First’s Dance’, sung with a vocoder, is very catchy and shows Enzo‘s sense of humour. We continue with the fast rhythms of ‘Penal Colony’, a track with sharp synthesizers and another great, very imaginative production. ‘Marty’s Melody’, on the other hand, is an intimate and emotional track. More cheerful is ‘Unyielding Sparks’, a song dedicated to the people who resist, like the previous track. ‘Hey Mr. Dictator’ is Enzo’s peculiar settling of scores with the protagonist of the album, accompanied by ominous synths. ‘The Sword and the Pen’, with spoken word, is an emotional track with an epic touch. The album ends with ‘Dawn of Dissent’, an instrumental track in which a broadcast tells us about the fall of the dictator. Dictator comes to an end with cries of joy from the liberated people and, possibly, from the listener.
