The Cure has made a strong comeback with their new album, “Songs of a Lost World,” after a 16-year hiatus. This release, their 14th studio album, features eight songs all penned by Robert Smith, the band’s co-founder and frontman. The album’s concise nature, running just under 50 minutes, exemplifies a “less is more” approach that works well. The music oscillates between the melancholy vibes associated with The Cure and some of their more upbeat influences, though it doesn’t feature any of their iconic toe-tappers.
The album opens with “Alone,” where the vocals are notably delayed, not starting until over three minutes into the track. This theme continues with the closer, “Endsong,” which extends for over ten minutes, reminiscent of the Disintegration era. The lyrical content is reflective, with Smith contemplating his life and career. The production, led by Paul Corkett and Smith, is brighter than past works like “Disintegration.”
Notable tracks include “And Nothing is Forever,” which begins with synthesized strings leading into guitar elements, and “Drone: Nodrone,” which showcases a mix of guitar and subtle synths. The most upbeat track, “A Fragile Thing,” carries a classic Cure sound.
Despite a drop in listener engagement according to Spotify stats on release day, the album is worth a full listen and stands out as one of the year’s best releases.