The Cure – A Fragile Thing Review

After the welcome confusion of lead single Alone, The Cure finds the context such a release needed on A Fragile Thing. Extending the out-there and exciting feel of a song in need of further support, Robert Smith and the band piece together a stunner. An all-time great for their discography which elevates the material before it and sets listeners up for great works down the line. A Fragile Thing is a powerful piece which may settle a bit better with those wanting the heavier guitar, the stronger instrumental impression made when paired with Smith as a winding, heartbroken frontman. This is where it works best and though the instrumental excess of Alone was a joy, The Cure cannot beat the slick solos and sharp work present on this, their second single ahead of Songs of a Lost World.  

Heavy bass riffs and a steady build with shimmering features and piano qualities are messy. A Fragile Thing is all over the place in those opening moments as each instrumental section sounds like it is fighting for a spot as number two to Smith’s vocals. But it works. Oddly enough in this carnage is a tremendous feeling, the intensity The Cure was so great at building is felt here. A Fragile Thing makes its heartbreak, or the potential for it, clear from word go. Smith works against the inevitable ends despite it being in place already. A fight is on his hands and for A Fragile Thing it means rallying against something which will already happen, a rebellious attitude which has guided The Cure through their best works. A Fragile Thing is no different to those emotive highs – a strong which is as compelling as it is brutal in its reality-tinged horrors.  

But it is also a cause for optimism, despite the gothic rock nature and all the stereotypes associated with it. Smith, or the character found in A Fragile Thing, is not keen to give up the fight despite knowing the ending. From those first words of bitter fear to the frightful end with an instrumental series of flourishes, A Fragile Thing makes it clear that sometimes no happy ending will reveal itself even if you try and persevere. Classic Cure. Instrumentally lush work from the band may overpower the vocals at times but Smith does well to fight against the messy production with a piercing performance, an overwhelming piece of work from the frontman. The promise of being lost when left alone is a guarantee found in many a life, and The Cure is trying to make sense of why they keep on pushing when abandoned.  

Because it is all you can do, appears to be the point Smith is making. Despite never having the chance to win the other person over, to reclaim your spot in their life, there is a dedication to trying anyway as though this choice of emotional flagellation is heroic. The Cure hits deep and well with this offering, and A Fragile Thing benefits greatly from the instrumental risks taken on the previous single Alone. It allows them to hunker down in the darker spots of their sound and provides not a dawning bit of brilliance but a lush and well-maintained piece of work. Messy? Absolutely, but then so too is the drama at the heart of this. Production cannot be excused by intent but it certainly makes sense for the blistering horrors of the real world to come to a head here.