Robert Smith, the iconic face behind The Cure, has a deep appreciation for musical intros, and he’s not shy about sharing his favorite.
This sentiment becomes evident when delving into his diverse influences over the years.
From the get-go, Smith drew inspiration from monumental figures in the music industry, with names like David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix ringing as vital cornerstones during The Cure’s formative years.
By the time 1982 rolled around, their shadowy opus ‘Pornography’ was underway. Here, Robert Smith revealed a keen admiration for The Psychedelic Furs, confessing an aspiration to parallel the sound of their debut release.
As the ’80s marched on, The Cure emerged as a defining voice in post-punk, largely due to Smith’s relatable and memorable lyricism.
Concurrently, Robert Smith’s musical palette was ever-evolving, pulling shades from an array of contemporary sounds.
Towards the latter part of the 1980s, a reverberating wave known as shoegaze, with its lush and distorted aura, began to captivate many, including Smith.
A significant moment arrived in the early ’90s when The Cure shared the stage with Ride during the 1991 Great British Weekend.
This encounter sparked mutual respect between the bands. Although The Cure had already stamped their influence on Ride’s music, it’s evident that Ride also left a mark on Smith’s musical psyche.
Of all Ride’s tracks, it was “Vapour Trail” from their groundbreaking 1990 album ‘Nowhere’ that caught Smith’s ear.
This track, an emblem of shoegaze and an alternative anthem of its decade was praised by Smith in the 2014 documentary ‘Beautiful Noise’. He applauded its start, proclaiming: “The opening fifteen seconds of ‘Vapour Trail’ are unparalleled.”
Robert Smith’s fondness for the track was so profound that, in 2015, he crafted two remixes in honor of ‘Nowhere’s’ 25th anniversary.
As The Cure ventured into new terrains, the shoegaze influence was palpable, with Ride standing out as a prominent muse.
One only has to listen to “The Hungry Ghost” from The Cure’s 2008 release, 4:13 Dream, to catch the echo of that influence in its introduction.
