You might think that after being silent for 16 years, would be in a rush to get things going. Think again. It takes over three minutes of 鈥淎lone鈥� 鈥� the first song on their new album 鈥� before we finally hear Robert Smith's voice. The Cure are back, but definitely on their terms.
The eight-track album 鈥淪ongs of a Lost World鈥� is lush and deeply orchestral, swelling and powerful, with often several minutes of instruments jamming before any singing.
There are melancholic and mournful lyrics that confront mortality and wonder where time went. 鈥淚鈥檓 outside in the dark/Wondering/How I got so old,鈥� Smith sings in the last, sprawling, heartbreaking song.
鈥淪ongs of a Lost World鈥� is, indeed, not of this world. None of the tunes are under four minutes and the last one saunters past 10. In an era when music is fashioned for microbursts on TikTok, Smith is disinterested. He lets songs take their time, unrushed and able to breath, the beauty of the melodies and instruments leading the way.
The first and last songs are in conversation, with the first stating 鈥淭his is the end/Of every song we sing/Alone鈥� and the final echoing the thought: 鈥淚t鈥檚 all gone/Left alone with nothing/The end of every song.鈥� There is a finality that fans will find distressful.
The album is The Cure's first since 2008's 鈥�4:13 Dream鈥� 鈥� although Smith has been making music, Eight new songs doesn't sound like a lot, but they are all rich and satisfying.
One of the highlights is 鈥淚 Can Never Say Goodbye,鈥� in which a simple, insistent piano noodle is surrounded by fluttering guitar work as Smith comes to terms with his brother's death. The band also goes cinematic with 鈥淎nd Nothing Is Forever,鈥� which has an Aaron Copland bright orchestral vibe, while 鈥淲arsong鈥� is a dissonant, spikey downer that concludes 鈥渨e are born to war.鈥�
鈥淎ll I Ever Am鈥� is built on some interesting drumming, plinky piano and fuzzy guitars, a bright wave of music with Smith's customary gloomy lyrics: 鈥淎ll I ever am/Is somehow never quite/All I am now.鈥� It is classic The Cure and yet thrillingly not.
We are in an era of 鈥�80s bands reemerging like cicadas 鈥� Crowded House, the The, Pet Shop Boys, among them 鈥� but 鈥淪ongs of a Lost World鈥� is no attempt to recapture 鈥淔riday I鈥檓 In Love鈥� or 鈥淚n Between Days.鈥� It is a huge step forward. It is The Cure鈥檚 best album since 鈥淒isintegration.鈥� Hopefully, there will be more.
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Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
