The Cure have once again proven their knack for cryptic allure, dropping enigmatic breadcrumbs teasing the next chapter in their storied career. This time, it comes in the form of a tantalizing clip for the song “Alone,” which is likely to be the first single from their long-awaited new album Songs of a Lost World. For those who’ve been following their sprawling 2022-2023 tour, “Alone” was the curtain-raiser for their live set—a brooding, slow-burner that immediately cast a lunar shadow over the night.
The band, ever the purveyors of mystery, shared parts of the clip via their mailing list and WhatsApp channel, with subscribers receiving a message containing the ominous lyric, “This is the end of every song we sing.” Then, in a typically oblique fashion, another message arrived: “Want to hear ‘Alone?'” A simple “YES” sent fans spiraling into a digital scavenger hunt, leading them to return to the newly unveiled Songs of a Lost World website. With a few cryptic clicks—specifically once again changing the Roman numerals to the album’s release date, “I XI MMXXIV”—listeners were greeted with the stone-face image (which was previously used on tour badges and credentials during 2022 and 2023) this time accompanied by a snippet of Smith’s plaintive voice delivering those foreboding lyrics.
