Post-punk legends The Cure are set to release their first new single in sixteen years later this week. Titled ‘Alone’, the track is the lead single from their highly anticipated album, Songs of a Lost World, which is scheduled for release on November 1, 2024.
The announcement of ‘Alone’ has generated significant excitement among fans. The Cure has been teasing their comeback with hints and cryptic messages. The song will premiere on Mary Anne Hobbs’ BBC 6 Music radio show on September 26 and will be available on streaming platforms shortly after.
Robert Smith, the band’s frontman, has been discussing new material since at least 2019. In various interviews, he has mentioned that the band has been working on multiple albums over the past decade. ‘Alone’ has already become a fan favourite, having been performed live as the set opener during their recent tours since 2022.
ALONEhttps://t.co/Txrpm6P0dE pic.twitter.com/03DRindHiG
— The Cure (@thecure) September 21, 2024
The Cure’s last studio album, 4:13 Dream, was released in 2008. Their 1992 album Wish and 1989’s Disintegration are often cited as some of the best works in alternative rock, solidifying their legacy as one of the most influential bands of their era.
The marketing campaign for Songs of a Lost World has been intriguing, with Smith sharing a cryptic post that simply read, “And then…,” sparking widespread speculation. This was followed by the band’s official website being wiped clean and replaced with an email signup link. Fans in the UK received black postcards featuring the album title and a set of Roman numerals translating to the release date. Alongside “Alone,” other new tracks like ‘A Fragile Thing’, ‘Endsong’, ‘I Can Never Say Goodbye’, ‘And Nothing Is Forever,’ and ‘Another Happy Birthday’ have also been performed live, hinting at the rich musical tapestry that Songs of a Lost World promises to be.
The album’s artwork, designed by long-time collaborator Andy Vella, continues the band’s tradition of visually compelling covers. Vella has been associated with The Cure since their 1981 single “Primary,” and his latest work for “Alone” is expected to be a visual treat, with the band having already posted grayscale rocky visuals in the promotional material.
In a 2022 interview with NME, Smith disclosed that the band has been working on two distinct records, with Songs of a Lost World being one of them. “So I’ve been working on two Cure albums, and one of them is finished,” Smith said in the interview, adding: “Unfortunately, it’s the second one that’s finished. On the other I’ve got to do four vocals, and there are 10 songs on each album. We’re mixing next month on April 1, so I’ve got three weeks left,” Smith explained.
