As marketing strategies go, The Cure aligning their long-awaited comeback record with the scariest week of the year turns out to be one hell of a bad one. Ahead of Friday's (November 1) release. Songs of a Lost Worldthe group's first LP in 16 years, the band played an intimate set in London for the BBC, which aired on Halloween Eve on TV and radio. Their release day show at east London's Troxy on Friday night included a full performance of the new album and an additional number of greatest hits and fan favourites.
The goth icons' show in the stunning art deco building wasn't decked out in pumpkins and candle-lit fake spiders, but suitably dark and grimy. Merchandise on the merch table came in only one color: black.
Even frontman Robert Smith knew he had to overcome the gloom on a day like this. Before the show started and during the intermission, sound effects of a deluge of rain played over the PA. “I'm begging you not to hear the thunder just before we go back on stage again,” he joked with his band during a return to the stage after a break.
The 16-year wait since 2008 4:13 Dream was the longest in the band's history, but this was not a completely idle period. The band have toured extensively, headlined Glastonbury festival in 2019 and embarked on an accompanying promotional tour – notably Shows of a Lost World which ran in 2023 – before the album was completed and released. There was still time for collaborations with Chvrches and Gorillaz, and a scrap with Ticketmaster (which our Bob won.)
The tune remains largely the same, but Songs of a Lost World faces new challenges. Smith said the songs on this record were influenced by his brother's death and collective loss through the pandemic. Keyboardist Roger O'Donnell was diagnosed with cancer and bassist Simon Gallup, the longest-serving member after Smith, briefly left the band in 2021 saying he was “fed up with the betrayal” before returning months later. Life is fragile, but The Cure's presence remains steadfast, even as they approach their 50th anniversary in 2028.
The record is long overdue by Smith's own admission. He's a perfectionist, but the best kind: everything that comes out is precise and impressive. The words are not wasted, nor is the enormous size of the productions that envelops them. It was worth the wait.
This momentous release day show – which was streamed live on YouTube – proved to be a celebration of a band still at the top of their game, and one of the most memorable in their career history.
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A Brooding Opener
Speaking ahead of its release, Smith said that “Alone” was the song that sparked the completion of their long gestation record. In particular, its macabre opening lines that set a tone of reflection: “This is the end of every song we sing/ The fire turned to ashes and the stars dimmed with tears/ Cold and afraid, the ghosts of all we have been/ We toast with bitter dregs, in our emptiness”. Played as the show's curtain-raiser, it's already a fan favorite.
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A Paean to a Lost Soul
Dividers play a huge role in provisioning Songs of a Lost World Its emotional weight, and that's nowhere more evident than on “I Can Never Say Goodbye.” Written in response to the death of Robert's older brother Richard, the song paints a picture of a “November moon in cold black rain” the night of his brother's death. Years later, Robert's grief and dismay at this loss is felt by those in the crowd of 2,000 who are going through similar grief.
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'Decay reigns
Songs of a Lost World owes the 1989 masterpiece Decompositiona perfect record that combined hit singles like “Lovesong” — which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart — with atmospheric dazzlers like the eight-minute group track. both LPs swim in the same murky waters. Six pieces of Decomposition entered the setlist, with “Fascination Street” and “Pictures Of You” encouraging a collective confusion. At one point, Smith says he's wearing hisDecomposition shirt' for the big show. Spoiler: it's black and floaty.
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Hit Parade
The Cure's live shows regularly exceed the three-hour mark, and their setlists even feature representation among their most beloved albums. Even if the energy dips a bit, there are plenty of bells to enter and get picked up again by their dedicated crowd. That “Close To Me” and “Just Like Heaven” – their best love song – can be played back-to-back at the two-hour mark, and still feel like there are longer choruses waiting to be sung, is a testament to their permanent order. Smith's voice throughout is strong, but the latter sounds particularly spectacular.
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Rare deep cutsmall
But it wouldn't be a Cure show without a curveball or two. Is not enough the 45th anniversary of the 1980 album Seventeen secondsbut that didn't stop them from paying homage to their second album before the band's third and final act. “Secrets” received its first live airing since 2011, as did the lesser-played “M.” The pulsating 'A Forest', the band's first real foray into noisy tones, remains strong and eerie.
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Friday I'm in… Huh?
“Friday I'm In Love” has been a staple in nearly every Cure set since 1992, but that doesn't guarantee perfection. As the band reached its third verse, Smith dropped the words and the rest of the group had to shape it to bring the song back together. But it's not a disaster, as Smith and the rest of the band seemed to be having as much fun as ever, sharing smiles and nods.
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A final look back
A Cure encore is one of the happiest in all of rock music: “Lullaby,” “Friday I'm in Love,” “Close to Me,” “Why Can't I Be You?” and 'Boys Don't Cry' are coming thick and fast. The cheers from the audience are keenly felt by the farewell band, with Smith late to leave the stage. Many times when he left at the close of the show, he turned back to look longingly at his audience, a lecherous grin on his face. “See you again soon,” he promised, knowing for all the fans in the room and watching at home, one Cure show is never enough.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world-album-london-concert-best-moments/
