Through the shivers of eternity and the shakes of the pandemic mind, we find serenity in the tried-and-tested—in the sounds that have long kept us whole. And, as the agonizing days of last year bled into weeks, then months, we all attempted to simply stay afloat, clinging tight to that which we love.
For Scottish trio CHVRCHES, that meant an explicit return to The Cure. And, that’s not to suggest they’d strayed far. All three of the Glasgow-based group’s albums glisten with The Cure’s iconic grand synth sound. But, this time, ongoing homage opened the door to Robert Smith himself.
Although some forty years separate CHVRCHES’ new offering “How Not To Drown” from legendary Cure tracks like “The Drowning Man” and “A Strange Day,” there are sufficient lyrical allusions to bind these different worlds. It’s an association—the commingling of old and new—that must’ve been both reassuring and invigorating on all sides.
In an interview on The Zane Lowe Show yesterday, CHVRCHES’ composer and multi-instrumentalist Martin Doherty reflected, “I wouldn’t be in a band if it wasn’t for [The Cure’s] Disintegration and Pornography. They’re the two of the greatest albums of all time.”
So, when a demo he made called “Piano Drum Ting” resurfaced—graced with Smith’s vocals—on Halloween last year, it was the incredible beginning of a reality that Cure fans might only dare to dream.
This is especially true because Smith doesn’t sing apart from The Cure often. With just one side project (The Glove) and a dozen or so one-off collaborations in The Cure’s 43-year history, it’s clear Smith is rather selective. Even with “How Not to Drown,” there was a chance it might not have been.
Smith remarks, “In fact, there was a moment like with CHVRCHES when I couldn’t….I said to them I can’t really see how I can fit into this….Like, I just felt I was getting in the way.” (Um, Robert Smith getting in the way of anything?! Only he is permitted to utter such words—and even then, please perish the thought, and rapidly.)
Fortunately, something clicked. Perhaps, it was the aforementioned lyrical connections between ‘80s Cure and contemporary CHVRCHES. Or maybe it was the spirit of the song itself, which relates the readiness of an artist in the limelight to retire their “crown” and find “what to do after you grew to hate what you used to love.” It’s a sentiment threaded into The Cure’s own discography—one which shatters the barriers between rockstar and fan and forces the uneasy awareness that our favorite idols are first and foremost people, too.
CHVRCHES’ new album ‘Screen Violence’ arrives in stores August 27th | Pre-Order
Although born out of isolation, “How Not To Drown” wastes no time pulling you in, with CHVRCHES’ singer Lauren Mayberry confidently making her case. When she plows into the chorus, it feels both triumphant and tragic—the perfect setup for Smith, on verse two, who just always knows the right thing to do with his magnificent voice.
And, if it’s unusual for Smith to contribute his talents outside The Cure, it’s rarer still for him to duet. But, here we are in 2021, and we’re all wishing the impossible.
The confluence of Mayberry and Smith, as they unite in chorus, is thrillingly electric—with both unique voices holding their own and enriching each other’s evocative strengths. (And, a quick aside to both, let’s be clear: It’s most certainly not better if you make no sound.)
As the powerful crescendo gives way to shimmering meditation, Smith closes out the song, echoing the opening words of Mayberry: “I'm writing a book on how to stay conscious when / you drown / And if the words float up to the surface / I'll keep them down / This is the first time I know / I don't want the crown / You can take it now / You can take it now / Take it now.”
With Mayberry now absent, Smith is left alone, bearing the same plight. And then, despite the magic of what’s just unfolded, he slips away as well. The song bids us adieu with a beautiful parting kiss of a Cure-like instrumental. It’s almost too much to take, but as my preordered copy suggests, I am ready.
Following the previously unveiled lead single “He Said She Said,” “How Not To Drown” is the second glimpse into CHVRCHES’ fourth studio LP Screen Violence, which is slated for release on August 27th.
PRE-ORDER Screen Violence via CHVRCHES’ Official Store
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