The Cure: Songs Of A Lost World album review

By Ameena Ceesay

If asked to name the most iconic alternative bands, or even iconic bands of the past 40 years, The Cure would and should spring to mind. After 16 years, the goth pioneers return with a new album, and all anticipation is met with brilliance.

THE SINGLES

The first song and single off the album, Alone, immediately invokes similarities to probably the band’s most quintessentially gothic album, Disintegration. From the lengthy instrumental intro, to the drone of the guitars. More specifically, it’s similar to Plainsong. But if it ain’t broke, so on and so forth.

“It takes longer to grow on you compared to Plainsong, but when it does, the beauty of the track grows also.”

Interestingly, gone are the fuzz of synths which emphasised the haunting, melancholic melody that invaded even the more lighthearted tracks such as Lovesong. Alone sounds a lot cleaner and almost optimistic solely by the keys- but are contrasted by the lyrics, which convey an optimism (a dream) erased to make way for a bitter reality. “The fire burned out to ash/And the stars grow dim with tears.”

It takes longer to grow on you compared to Plainsong, but when it does, the beauty of the track grows also. Robert Smith’s vocals have barely been tainted by Father Time, and the songwriting remains on point. The aspects that made the band so unique have carried through all these years later, and it’s astonishing to see.

“To those who consider Alone to be a chore, this one is more ideal.”

The second single, A Fragile Thing, is structurally not far off another Disintegration classic, Lullaby, however it’s different enough to stand on its own. To those who consider Alone to be a chore, this one is more ideal. The intro concludes in seconds rather than minutes, and the tempo is sped up. Easier to digest, easier to sing and dance to. “Nothing you can do but sing” indeed. As on brand for The Cure, even their upbeat songs (whether a slight tempo change or a complete tonal shift) don’t discard any of their patented complexities in lyrics and sound, so this isn’t one to drive away the purists, while also being better suited for repeat listening. 

ADDITIONAL TRACKS

The singles set the tone for this album, in that all 8 songs are separated into two camps. The Alone camp, in which the songs follow that single’s formula- bloated intro, minimal lyrics. And The Fragile Thing camp, which is vice versa, and therefore more conventional. Personal preference will determine which of these are better, and while the album suffers from a couple of tracks sounding repetitive, e.g And Nothing Lasts Forever being a flatter, duller version of Alone, there are some gems which fall onto both sides.

“…bringing what began as an intense slow burn of an opener, and wrapping up the album with an epic close.”

Drone:Nodrone brings an enticing undertone of industrial rock to the mix, complete with a mesmerising guitar solo. This also factors into the final track, Endsong, which elevates the blueprint laid out by Alone through the electric guitar in the outro- bringing what began as an intense slow burn of an opener, and wrapping up the album with an epic close. 

Songs Of A Lost World is everything you could want from a Cure album and it’s safe to say that these veterans have still got it.