Shortly after The Cure staged a 45-song set this weekend at the Royal Albert Hall, for the charity Teenage Cancer Trust, frontman Robert Smith began sending mixed signals concerning the band’s upcoming new albums.
In February, in an announcement regarding The Cure’s shows supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust, the band revealed they would soon be releasing their next album, 4:14 Scream. Recorded at the same time as 2008′s 4:13 Dream, this record would be considered a companion to The Cure’s last album.
Following the band’s performance this weekend, Smith spoke out against its release, however, in an interview with XFM:
We’re in a weird kind of predicament. I’ve finished singing and mixing an album that was made by a band that no longer exists. So I’m trying to be convinced that I should release what is the second half of an album that effectively came out in 2008. It’s a bit of a sore point, to be honest.
Smith conveyed in the interview that 4:13 Dream would likely be released via Fiction Records, which The Cure recorded under between 1978 and 2000.
It seems like a nice way of squaring the circle. Having said all that… I’ve no idea. I’m very bad at planning long term. I’m at an age where I’m enjoying what I’m doing. I don’t feel such a strong urge to beat people over the head with new stuff.
Smith is also currently working with a new lineup for The Cure on a different album, and he explained in the interview it has taken priority over 4:13 Dream for him. If the companion record were to be released, however, Smith says it will likely come out during the “…summer ‘dead air’ period for albums,” which is also when he expects the new band to be taking a break from touring.