The Cure – Mixes Of A Lost World (Polydor/Fiction)
Last year Robert Smith broke a 16-year silence with a new Cure album, Songs Of Lost World. Now, just a few months later we get the remixes.
Before diving into the double-vinyl version of Mixes, it seemed only right to revisit the original album first. But after posting this review last November, I was happy to hear it again.
It still holds up well.
But, me being an old codger, I never understood the whole remix thing…what’s done is done, so move on.
But I’m not Robert Smith…not by a long shot.
So, the backstory to the remixes album is as follows:
According to Robert:
“JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS I WAS SENT A COUPLE OF UNSOLICITED REMIXES OF ‘SONGS OF A LOST WORLD’ TRACKS AND I REALLY LOVED THEM. THE CURE HAS A COLOURFUL HISTORY WITH ALL KINDS OF DANCE MUSIC, AND I WAS CURIOUS AS TO HOW THE WHOLE ALBUM WOULD SOUND ENTIRELY REINTERPRETED BY OTHERS. THIS CURIOSITY RESULTED IN A FABULOUS TRIP THROUGH ALL 8 SONGS BY 24 WONDERFUL ARTISTS AND REMIXERS AND IS WAY BEYOND ANYTHING I COULD HAVE HOPED FOR. GIVING OUR RECORDING ROYALTIES FROM THE PROJECT TO WAR CHILD HELPS MAKE ‘MIXES OF A LOST WORLD’ AN EVEN MORE SPECIAL RELEASE.”
If nothing else, any proceeds go to a worthy cause, especially in these treacherous times.
There are two versions of the remix album…the digital, streaming version features 24 tracks while the double-disc vinyl version has a total of 16…four on each side. And as the new album art illustrates, the remixes add a new set of colours to the originals.
Most of the best-known contributors are included on the vinyl, including Paul Oakenfold, Orbital and Daniel Avery whose work makes up the first three tracks. Of those three, I’m partial to Oakenfield’s dramatic, “cinematic” Remix of I Can Never Say Goodbye.
For the record…each of the original album’s eight tracks show up twice, but not in the original running order…which is fine.
I found the remixes on disc one a bit more interesting than those on the second disc, where tracks like Omid 16B’s Warsong and Sally C’s A Fragile Thing threatened to sound a bit average.
But the overall listening experience, especially on a good sound system with a sub woofer, was excellent.
Now let’s see what Mr. Smith and The Cure come up with next…
Marty Duda
The 2LP/2CD/2MC edition features the ‘Remixers’ tracks only and comes as a black vinyl 2LP with a gatefold sleeve; a double CD in 6-panel digisleeve includes foldout CD poster; the limited edition double cassette has individually printed o-cards and obi-strip is also exclusive to The Cure store. Click here to order.
