"Cataracts" marks a dramatic turn within The Synthesatsers' repertoire, offering listeners a visceral, disturbing experience. The song starts with an unsettling drone that sets a tone of unease, followed by dissonant synth layers that weave in and out like a dense fog distorting reality. The composition of "Cataracts" features a slow-burning build-up, where arrhythmic beats create a sense of disorientation akin to the visual impairment the title suggests. The synths are grainy and abrasive, occasionally punctuated by what sounds like muffled, distorted voices or mechanical groans that add to the eerie atmosphere.