Robert Smith has shared more details about a new Cure album which is set to be a “companion piece” to ‘Songs Of A Lost World’, as well as a third album that takes a different approach.
The frontman spoke about new material from the band during an interview with Absolute Radio’s Danielle Perry, as part of a special version of Tim Burgess’ Listening Parties. It came following the release of the alt-rock icons long-awaited 14th album ‘Songs Of A Lost World‘ – their first since 2008’s ‘4:13 Dream‘ – on November 1.
It’s been known for a while now that the band have been sitting on more new material since 2008. Back in 2020, for instance, Smith told NME that the band were hard at work on “two new albums and an hour of noise”.
Now, Smith has shared an update on the new material, and said that one is complete and comes as somewhat of a sibling record to their recently shared LP. “There is another album which is pretty much ready to go. It’s sort of its companion piece,” he said, adding that there is material written for yet another album that takes a different approach. “There’s a third one which is completely different. It’s really kind of random stuff, like late-night studio stuff. But some of it is really good actually, it’s just very very different.”
“This ‘Songs Of A Lost World’ album is a really emotional piece of work and the companion piece, it’s not quite as dark but it explores other subjects a little bit more,” he continued.
“The third one is very odd, actually. I haven’t finished the words to that one because my headspace has been much more focused on performing these ones. I don’t really want it to end because it’s been so good. The reaction to the new music has been so, so great. It’s been really lovely to feel people giving us all the love.”
Robert Smith has revealed that there is more music on the way… 👀 pic.twitter.com/AsKqlG3lcY
— Absolute Radio (@absoluteradio) December 9, 2024
You can listen to the full interview with Robert Smith and Danielle Perry this Sunday (December 15) on Absolute Radio’s Sunday Music Club. It will air from 8pm GMT and will be available here.
The comments about the new material come as The Cure recently released the new ‘A Fragile Thing’ EP featuring a live version and a Robert Smith remix, before announcing a new live album of their special London launch gig.
Held at the Troxy, the show saw the band play ‘Songs Of A Lost In World’ in full before running through a packed set of fan favourites and greatest hits, and seems to be their final gig before they tour in autumn 2025.
Smith had hinted about the “different” third LP before too, saying that he was eager to fully complete at least one of the records before gearing up to hit the road in 2025.
“We’ll start up again next year. Seriously, I have to finish the second album. We were going to play festivals next year, but then I decided that we weren’t going to play anything next summer. The next time we go out on stage will be autumn next year,” he said.
‘Songs Of A Lost World’ saw The Cure bag their first Number One album in the UK in 32 years, with NME awarding it five stars. “Merciless? Yes, but there’s always enough heart in the darkness and opulence in the sound to hold you and place these songs alongside The Cure’s finest,” it read.
“The frontman suggested that another two records may be arriving at some point, but ‘Songs Of A Lost World’ feels sufficient enough for the wait we’ve endured, just for being arguably the most personal album of Smith’s career. Mortality may loom, but there’s colour in the black and flowers on the grave.”
It was also included in NME’s list of Best Albums Of The Year, while lead single ‘Alone’ starred in NME’s Best Songs Of 2024. “‘Alone’ ended a 16-year drought and proved The Cure haven’t lost any of their magic. Through swirling synths and cinematic instrumentation, paired with Robert Smith’s poignant lyricism and melodies, this epic is a masterwork of ethereal beauty and raw emotional depth,” the latter read. “One of their most captivating songs to date.”
The appearance on Absolute Radio also arrives as Smith hosted a run-through of Tim’s Twitter Listening Party for The Cult’s classic album ‘Wish’ back in November 2022, done from the dressing room after The Cure played the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. You can revisit it here.
