The Cure – Alone Review

New music from The Cure is no surprise. The band had not only hinted but confirmed this five years ago. But the anticipation they have built for Songs of the Lost World overtakes any expectation. It is a smart move, accidental or not, to leave us wanting this release for so long. Here it is. Alone marks the first single from this upcoming project, the first album release from The Cure in sixteen years. Robert Smith and the band stay sharp with consistent performances and creative dabbles here or there and have not missed a step with this release. A nearly seven-minute powerhouse with instrumental glories and a series of modern flourishes which give The Cure space to breathe. But is there a flicker of doubt brewing in those stiff instrumentals? A coldness is essential to the track but almost overwhelms it. 

But patience perseveres. Smith holds a rarity to his voice – a seasoned frontman who can still hit the same tones and flourishes as his heyday. Alone is an ambitious move from him and the band, but within the choices made is a realisation that fans will lap up anything. It has all the pangs and form of an emotive track, a heartstring-tugging attempt ineffective for those with higher expectations. Smith’s heart may be on the line but it is done in the insincere manner of crushing, clashing instrumentals which has been, at this point, overdone. But it is The Cure and they sound as impressive, lyrically and instrumentally, as they always do. Swallow the bitter pill of odd reflections and lean into the comfortable, somewhat challenging reflection. Alone is perceived as the end of all their other songs, and here is the encore. 

Swansong, homecoming, whatever you want to call it, The Cure wants it. They deserve it, sure, but Alone is an immediate struggle. But it blossoms over time. A few listens later and those grooves of dreaming life is a dream, the interspersed fear of time slipping through Smith’s fingers, sounds as sincere as The Cure can be with an overplayed topic. Alone does not stick out just yet, it will need the context of the album to assure its weaker spots – but this is, ultimately, new music from a band with the sparks of creative fury still burning bright. Powerful wordplay without the instrumental force behind it to find a spot for safer landings. In these choppy waters, we hear a band proud of their work but almost fortified by their biggest works. They turn to how their songs always end with a vaguely new style. 

This is a new song from The Cure. It sounds like it, moves like it and has the impact of their usual output. Those three minutes of instrumental excess are sharply placed before the reflective cover, a reminder of how the title takes hold. Alone is as it says on the tin, a striking piece which has the band document their isolation in the face of these opportunities to return to where they belong. They have pushed off this homeward journey for so long that it is admirable, and a band like The Cure deserves the chance to exonerate their artistic lengths with a track like this. It builds and builds, and then it crumbles. Alone is certainly a grower, a song which needs a few playthroughs before Smith reveals the true heart of this piece, buried under the rubble of every other farewell-styled tune.