The Cure has dropped their lead single ahead of the release of the grungy rockers’ first album in 16 years.
The Close To You hitmakers didn’t just make a social media announcement like most people – they went about the news in a very understated way: by placing a single poster on the outside wall of the Crawley pub, where they played their first gig in 1978.
Pictures taken and posted on social media see a shiny-looking black poster on the grey wall of The Railway pub in Sussex, which if you look closely enough is announcing the exciting news.
While the band has now confirmed the news on social media, the poster reads – in tiny writing – the name of the record: Songs of a Lost World.
Fans are being well and truly treated, as not only will they get a new album after an almost 20-year wait but the wait is almost over with the first single, Alone, finally available to stream.
The seven-minute song has been played multiple times live across the band’s 90-date world tour and now fans everywhere have the chance to listen.
Frontman Robert Smith said in a statement: ‘It’s the track that unlocked the record; as soon as we had that piece of music recorded I knew it was the opening song, and I felt the whole album come into focus.’
He admitted that he struggled to find the ‘right opening line for the right opening song for a while’.
He added: ‘[I was] working with the simple idea of ‘being alone’, always in the back of my mind this nagging feeling that I already knew what the opening line should be…’
After they finished recording he recalled the Ernest Downson poem Dregs and ‘that was the moment when I knew the song – and the album – were real.’
The opening line aptly echoes the poem, going: ‘This is the end of every song that we sing / The fire burned out to ash’.
There has been huge praise for the single from critics and fans alike, with The Guardian calling it ‘majestically wreathed in misery and despair’.
Over on Reddit, @jeanclausebrowncloud wrote: ‘This is really good, classic cure.’
Another user @funbee1638 shared: ‘The 16 years of wanting new Cure music just melted away. Roberts voice as beautiful and emotive as ever. This track brought me to tears.
‘My favorite band since the ’80s. Although they haven’t released an album in so long, they’ve never left my rotation.’
As for when the full album is dropping, using Roman numerals the band revealed the new album will be released on November 1.
Fans are – needless to say – absolutely buzzing.
‘NEW THE CURE ALBUM!!!! AFTER 16 YEARS!!!!!!’ hyped fan Manon, as X user @Swags__123 wrote: ‘album of the century being released.’
@germoses said, ‘Oh my God, it’s happening!’ while @rabbitechoes added: ‘WE’RE SO BACK.’
Manchester’s night time economy advisor Sacha Lord took to social media complimenting the band’s cool announcement.
He said: ‘@thecure have announced the release date of their first album in 16 years, by placing a single poster outside the pub they played their first gig in 1978. The Railway, Crawley, Sussex. Now that’s cool….and two fingers up to the usual corporate hype.’
Personalising the experience, the band also sent postcards out to fans of the poster, inviting them to be part of the hype.
They are still keeping fans guessing on some aspects of the comeback though. On September 19, the Cure shared a teaser clip featuring a projection of a stone head – which could be the new album artwork – in and around Blackpool.
Teasing fans, the video also features various videos of Blackpool Tower and signs, with co-ordinates in the band’s post also leading to the famous landmark.
This – as well as Blackpool’s significance in being the place frontman Robert Smith was born before moving to Crawley – makes fans think they are planning a surprise gig in the Lancashire seaside town.
Billboards were also spotted in Paris, Rome and New York City showing the album title and their artwork.
To mystery continues as in order to access their secretive website, fans of the band have to enter the Roman numerals of the 2024 record’s release date, which are I. XI. MMXXIV.
This comes after the band’s long-time keyboardist Roger O’Donnell earlier this month revealed he was diagnosed with a ‘very rare and aggressive form’ of blood cancer a year ago.
The 68-year-old shared he was diagnosed with the disease in September last year, after ignoring symptoms.
Roger pulled out of the band’s Latin America tour due to ‘health reasons’ last November.
In a social media statement, the band said: ‘We are sure you will join with us in wishing him the speediest of recoveries.’
A previous drummer for the band, Andy Anderson, died aged 68 in 2019 after being diagnosed with cancer.
The Cure, known for their gothic, post-punk style and ever-changing line up save their front man Robert, formed in 1978.
They enjoyed an impressive run of eleven consecutive top 20 albums between 1980 and 2004, and their last release was in 2008 with 4:13 Dream.
The Lovecats hitmakers also notched 21 top 40 singles between 1980 and 1996, reaching the top 10 on four occasions.
Their biggest tracks are Friday, I’m In Love, Boys Don’t Cry, Close To You, and Lovecats.
In 2019, the members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
This article was first published on September 20, 2024.
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