The Cure’s first album in 16 years is romantic and melodic, says NPR critic : NPR

SCOTT DETROW, HOST:

The Remedy, the English rock band that for many years has dominated over a darkish and mysterious nook of music, has simply launched its first album in 16 years. “Songs Of A Misplaced World” is moody and dramatic, and likewise romantic and melodic. All of this must be music to the ears of followers who’ve cherished the band for the reason that ’80s once they had been releasing albums with names like “Disintegration” and “Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.” So what does The Remedy supply listeners in 2024? NPR music critic and correspondent Ann Powers is right here to speak us by way of the brand new album. Hey, Ann.

ANN POWERS, BYLINE: Hey, Scott. The way you doing?

DETROW: I am good. I am just a little stunned by this. Is it truthful to name this a shock?

POWERS: Effectively, sure and no – I imply, The Remedy has been enjoying songs which are on this album on tour for some time, and the followers knew it was coming. However what’s a shock, I feel, is that this is among the greatest rock albums of the 12 months. It is likely to be…

DETROW: Ooh.

POWERS: …The most effective rock album of the 12 months. I imply, the music sounds proper according to The Remedy’s basic albums, like “Disintegration,” but it surely nonetheless sounds completely contemporary and related, just like the tune “And Nothing Is Eternally.”

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “AND NOTHING IS FOREVER”)

THE CURE: (Singing) Promise you will be with me in the long run. Say we’ll be collectively, that you simply will not overlook. Nevertheless far-off, you’ll bear in mind me tonight.

POWERS: I imply, a part of it’s that that is actually a band album. I imply, Robert Smith, the primary man in The Remedy, he did write the entire songs on this file. However though the group hasn’t launched an album since 2008, this model of the band has been touring with principally the identical lineup for greater than a decade. And, man, they’re tight. They’re on hearth. I need to shout out the rhythm part specifically – the drummer, Jason Cooper, and the bassist Simon Gallup. They simply maintain this engine working even when the songs get actually enormous.

DETROW: Let’s discuss Robert Smith, although, for a second ‘trigger – a type of guys who simply appeared outdated for his time in his 20s, proper?

POWERS: (Laughter).

DETROW: Now he is 65.

POWERS: Icon of ennui (laughter).

DETROW: Now he is 65, although. So how does that melancholy translate at this part within the band’s profession?

POWERS: Effectively, you already know, Scott, generally with an artist, you suppose, wow, they had been at all times meant to be the place they’re at now.

DETROW: Yeah.

POWERS: And that is, to me, the essence of this file. It seems that the depth that the band conjures of their songs – you already know, songs that cope with demise and loneliness and inside and international battle – really, it’s good for somebody who’s 65, you already know? I imply, it is actually good for somebody in a later chapter of his life. This album, “Songs Of A Misplaced World,” addresses the deaths of a number of of his closest relations, his dad and mom and his older brother, who was one of many guys who introduced him into music. Smith’s floating existential dread was at all times type of his model, you already know? However now he is in an actual face down with mortality, and that is very highly effective – like on this tune, “I Can By no means Say Goodbye.”

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I CAN NEVER SAY GOODBYE”)

THE CURE: (Singing) There’s nowhere left to cover. And I can not wake this dreamless sleep nonetheless arduous I attempt.

DETROW: , The Remedy is thought for being gothy. However then additionally they have these enormous hits like “Friday I am In Love,” like, a completely completely different sound. Any of that on this album?

POWERS: I am glad you introduced that up. So principally, there’s two Cures in a single band. There’s the enjoyable, quirky, hit-making band, such as you talked about, you already know, “Friday I am In Love.” These are enjoyable songs. We love to listen to them on our biggest hits of the ’80s compilations or no matter. However then there’s additionally this, like, completely locked in, nearly metal-level rock monster of a band, whose songs simply stretch out for eight or 10 minutes at a time, and who actually take you on a psychedelic journey. And this album is in that camp. That is what you are getting with these songs. Regardless that there’s, like – there’s nonetheless the essence of a hook in lots of of those songs.

DETROW: OK.

POWERS: We’ll nonetheless sing alongside.

DETROW: One factor The Remedy hasn’t actually been through the years is a political band, proper? Although…

POWERS: Yeah.

DETROW: …Perhaps a little bit of a shift right here with one explicit tune, “Warsong,” that does handle large, weighty points. Is that this a pivot?

POWERS: Effectively, I believed it was after I heard the tune, however then I did a little analysis and located that Smith has mentioned that that tune is a few relationship, you already know, a type of friendships the place you fall out and also you make up, and also you fall out once more. However the sound of it, to me, it simply takes it to that greater scale. I imply, it looks like a battleground if you’re listening and I – to me, it resonates in regards to the international state of affairs that we’re all in.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WARSONG”)

THE CURE: (Singing) Oh, it is distress the way in which we struggle. For bitter ends we tear the evening in two.

DETROW: And as a lot as I hate to say it, it is a very long time from the ’80s.

POWERS: (Laughter) Sure.

DETROW: It is a very long time from that post-punk period, the place The Remedy actually made its mark. Why do we want this band now? What does The Remedy have for us in 2024?

POWERS: , The Remedy affords us actually immersive music, coping with essentially the most, like, intense and troublesome feelings that people expertise. And let’s face it – we’re in a difficult second in historical past proper now, and simply falling into an album like this, for me, it helps me cope.

DETROW: Effectively, that is an excellent factor.

POWERS: Yeah, we want it.

DETROW: That is NPR music critic and correspondent Ann Powers speaking in regards to the new album from The Remedy known as “Songs Of A Misplaced World.” And you’ll hear extra of her ideas on the NPR music podcast, New Music Friday. Thanks so much, Ann.

POWERS: Thanks a lot.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

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