How do I solve 5 across in Express Cryptic 20260520?

Question

Accepted Answer

5 across reads "Recording by socialist got thinner" (7 letters); the answer is TAPERED. It's a charade: the answer breaks into parts in clue order, each part clued by a word or short phrase. No indicators needed; watch for standard abbreviations (RA = artist, US = American, IN = at home) and short synonyms. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

Recording by socialist got thinner (7)

5A — Recording by socialist got thinner (7) — TAPERED