From Clash:
The Cure – Mixes Of A Lost World
A varied, refreshing look at the band's monolithic return to form...
For a band primarily known for their melancholic and immersive songs, a remix album might seem like an odd offering from The Cure. Those familiar with the group, however, will know they have a long-standing relationship with remix culture. From relatively early in their career, their tracks have occasionally been reworked—whether it’s the far superior single mix of ‘Close to Me’ (complete with the beloved trumpet section), or the ‘Mixed Up’ album, released at the height of the Baggy scene in 1990. That record is a mixed bag in terms of quality, but it showcased the flexibility of The Cure’s lush melodies and Robert Smith’s unmistakable vocals.
In the years since, artists as varied as Gorillaz, Faithless, and Crystal Castles have enlisted Smith to lend his signature angst and longing to their dancefloor-ready tracks. Still, an entire remix compilation reimagining the band’s monolithic return to form, ‘Songs of a Lost World’, is a curious proposition. But with all Cure royalties going to War Child UK, why not? Spurred on by a handful of unsolicited remixes he received over Christmas, Smith has managed to rally 24 artists to rework his songs of death and the passage of time.
The results are surprisingly sprightly and effective, with the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Orbital, Four Tet, and Sally C pushing the original album’s eight monochrome tracks into vibrant new territory. Sure, there’s something a little perverse about turning a song about the passing of Smith’s brother into a full-on rave anthem—but it only underscores the emotional power of the originals. Roger O’Donnell’s keys, in particular, are repeatedly used as the melodic backbone for these producers’ fresh interpretations.
Oakenfold’s take of the aforementioned track, ‘I Can Never Say Goodbye,’ goes for something cinematic and truly epic in scope. It’s a nice pivot and is practically begging to be used on a tense movie trailer. Cure superfan Trentemøller goes for a respectfully ethereal go at ‘And Nothing Is Forever’ before things go raucous at the midway point. Daybreakers disassemble ‘Warsong,’ using mere shadows of the original’s menacing guitar and organ to rebuild it into something darkly anthemic and fun.
With only one relatively short album used as a basis for the comp, there’s some repetition over the course of the deluxe edition’s tracklist. It’s a relatively small squabble, though, an unavoidable conceptual one. ‘Mixes Of A Lost World’, for the most part, is a varied, refreshing listen. The Cure have proven themselves to be one of the UK’s most beloved and influential acts. Their sound has stood the test of time and, in doing so, proves quite resilient to being twisted, trimmed, and smudged into other genres. There’s a spooky sincerity inherent in their music that will always defy trends.
Words: Sam Walker-Smart
7/10