Watchmaker was released as the second single from Modern Synthesis on the 6th of May 2016. The song was written primarily by Kogie and Sparkles*.
The video features live footage from their Winter tour in 2015 and a large glitch effect throughout the video.
Cassandra
During several parts of the song, a feminine synthesized voice can be faintly heard singing alongside Sparkles*. When wearing headphones, this is most clearly heard through the right speaker. The voice is either intentional, likely Cassandra, or potentially just an unintentional side effect of some of the audio processing. The lyrics where this occurs are in bold below.
A pitch-isolated version of the song makes it easier to hear this voice.
Lyrics
Serve or break the patterns
that would be
Echo positions of the free
Middle child of eternity
Caught between the
branches and the roots
Move in any way that suits
The creeping vines of anomie
I never wanted to believe
I never asked if I could stay
Switch the pressures you relieve
Forge your aggression in the clay
The art that I buried in the earth
Sketching parallels to understand
Why I can't share your love
Watchmen and makers in dissent
I’m only building what I meant
To do so many lives ago
I never wanted to believe
I never asked if I could stay
Switch the pressures you relieve
Forge your aggression in the clay
I never wanted to believe
I never asked if I could stay
Switch the pressures you relieve
Forge your aggression in the clay
Acoustic Version
An acoustic version of Watchmaker was included on the Let It Resonate EP. The lyrics are completely unchanged; however, right before the first chorus, 47 seconds in, Parv can be heard saying "Do not disturb my magnesium sleep."
The acoustic version was actually previewed on July 7 long before the EP released, in this tweet. In it, Sparkles* plays the intro/bridge of the song on just the piano.
Previous Names
On Area 11's Versus Winter Tour 2015, a song was debuted that was as of the performance untitled.
At the Manchester gig, Sparkles* named the song "Guide Me In/Count Me Down." It has been previously named as "Grace," and "Jean Valjean." It was also called "Where's my Fucking Jack Daniels?" and "Toilet Club." At the Bristol show, the song was introduced as "Puppy Bowl," which gathered plenty of confused reactions from the audience.
Trivia
- The lyrics of the verses were written by Kogie, while the chorus lyrics were written by both Kogie and Sparkles*.
- Kogie considers it his favourite song to write on the album.
- Parv considers this song one of the hardest for him to play from the album.