For the last few weeks, The Cure have been teasing their fans with the possibility of their long-awaited album with a series of delightfully esoteric mysteries, including a mysterious poster advertising the upcoming Songs Of A Lost World album at the location of their first gig, as well as cryptic black postcards sent to select fans.
Taking a cue from Bowie’s Blackstar reveal campaign, these cards, when shone with a blacklight, reveal the Roman numerals I/XI/MMXXIV. That translates to our more familiar Phonecian number system as 1-11-2024 – or, more plainly: 1 November 2024. This mystery will make its appearance at the stroke of midnight: between Halloween and All Saints Day.
One thing is for certain, Robert Smith plays a long waiting game between albums: the last studio release from The Cure was 2008’s 4:13 Dream. The band has acknowledged that this “merciless” new record was a particularly involved creation process. “Well the first Cure album is relentless doom and gloom,” Smith said. “It’s the doomiest thing that we’ve ever done. The second one is upbeat, and my [solo] one won’t be out until next year.” Keyboardist Roger O’Donnell described the album to NME as “the most intense, saddest, most dramatic and most emotional record we’ve ever made.” O’Donnell is optimistic that fans will be happy with the album. Smith described the album as intense and unrelenting as Pornography.
Two songs have already been released during concerts: And Nothing Is Forever and I Can Never Say Goodbye, recorded during performances.
“Before I used to write about stuff that I thought I understood,” Smith told NME. “Now I know I understand it. The lyrics I’ve been writing for this album, for me personally, are more true. They’re more honest. That’s probably why the album itself is a little bit more doom and gloom. I feel I want to do something that expresses the darker side of what I’ve experienced over the last few years – but in a way that will engage people…the working title was Live From the Moon, because I was enthralled by the 50th anniversary of the Apollo landing in the summer. We had a big moon hanging in the studio and lunar-related stuff lying around. I’ve always been a stargazer.”
Upon messaging the WhatsApp channel, one is soon sent a lyric from new song, Alone. More mystical information could be on the way via a new secret society – we mean, website – but there’s a secret password for this online speakeasy. It is expected that new information and potentially new music will be transmitted via these channels.
To gain access, visit this mysterious Songs of A Lost World website and scroll through the Roman numerals to the correct album release date: I. XI. MMXXIV. You will then be presented with a 3D statue that rotates when you scroll over it, a mailing list invitation, and an invitation to join The Cure’s WhatsApp community.
In the meantime, The Cure is also set to release Novembre—Live in France 2022, a double A-side 12” single pressed on eco-friendly vinyl—a result of a collaboration that aims to strike a louder, deeper chord. Although presales for the vinyl version have already sold out, the album is set to drop on October 1st, 2024.
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