The Cure review – an intimate, poignant show from a band more focused than they’ve been in years

After two hours into the Cure's somewhat cozy concert to celebrate the release of their new album, Songs of a Lost World, Robert Smith pleads with the sound technician to stop playing the recorded sounds of thunder and rain that have filled the grand Troxy venue while the band took a break between encores. “It feels a bit like a horror movie,” he remarks. “Let’s have some cheerful tunes instead.”

Tonight, the Cure masterfully captures the full range of emotions, showcasing both joy and sadness. Robert Smith has consistently explored themes of mortality and longing in his music. While the new album, *Songs of a Lost World*, could easily have been released at any time in the last several decades, it demonstrates that refining your skills can be more compelling than constantly trying to reinvent yourself.

Typically driven by the talkative bass of Simon Gallup, the band has achieved a sound that is both more intense and more concentrated than it has been in a long time, yet they still master the art of restraint. Smith has mentioned that the new tracks are some of the most personal he has ever penned. In the song "I Can Never Say Goodbye," the music slowly diminishes, allowing him to deliver the lines “Something wicked this way comes to take away my brother’s life” completely solo, creating a touching moment of sorrow for his deceased brother.

This level of intensity in their performance makes Songs of a Lost World blend perfectly with the excitement of the next two hours filled with classic hits—especially the part of 1980's Seventeen Seconds that is featured in its own encore. The Cure effortlessly transitions from the catchy tunes of Friday I'm in Love and Inbetween Days to the edgy energy of At Night, the haunting melody of Fascination Street, and the tense atmosphere of A Forest. The fact that everything feels so vibrant alongside the new album indicates that the band shows no signs of slowing down as they near their fiftieth anniversary. "We’re nearly out of time … but just for tonight," Smith shares.

In the song "Pictures of You," a couple who were born long after its release in 1989 share an enthusiastic kiss. They truly understand the vibe. Not many bands have expressed the thrill of grabbing a fleeting moment of desire amidst life's turmoil and chaos as beautifully as the Cure has.