The Cure have just released their haunting new single, “A Fragile Thing,” ahead of their upcoming album Songs of a Lost World, due out on November 1st.
The track opens with a ghostly piano melody before gradually building into a lush, expansive arrangement that perfectly complements Robert Smith’s signature voice. Reflecting on loss and the internal conflict between competing emotional needs, Smith explains: “A Fragile Thing is driven by the difficulties we face in choosing between mutually exclusive needs and how we deal with the futile regret that can follow these choices.”
This single follows Alone, released in September, and offers a glimpse into the darker themes that define the new album.
Smith’s lyrics touch on isolation and fragile connections, themes likely influenced by the recent passing of his family members, which he mentioned as a source of the album’s emotional depth.
Songs of a Lost World marks The Cure’s first album in 16 years, and fans have been eagerly anticipating its release. The full tracklist includes songs such as “Endsong” and “And Nothing Is Forever,” which were previewed during their Shows of a Lost World tour.
Check out the full tracklist for Songs of a Lost World below:
Alone
And Nothing Is Forever
A Fragile Thing
Warsong
Drone
I Can Never Say Goodbye
All I Ever Am
Endsong
The album has been a long time in the making, with Smith acknowledging the years of hesitation and constant revisions.
