The Cure

Mixed Up & Mixed Up Extras Polydor

Reimagining imaginary boys.

The DJ culture that erupted during the 80s soon infiltrated rock, as bands snatched the extended remix concept to create another format or revamp back catalogues.

Facing the new decade in some disarray after 1989’s Disintegration and global Prayer Tour, The Cure had already got in early with 12-inch remixes, so Robert Smith decided to curate the momentum-maintaining Mixed Up. When earlier tracks failed to match later excursions, and inspired by Chuck New’s funky drummer extension of Picture Of You, he revised the concept to include re-recording

A Forest and The Walk and, after transforming Close To Me into the shimmering Closer Mix, created new reworks to join existing mixes.

While the remastered original double album provides the first pair of this three-CD set, the main attraction will be Smith’s 16 new Torn Down remixes, which start with stripping down and dubbing up Three Imaginary Boys then see him work through the catalogue fashioning lustrous new curves, grooves and textures on personal faves like

M, A Strange Day and It’s Over rather than taking obvious hits to the dance floor. Sealed with Smith’s 1990 self-portrait, it could be the enigmatic Cure leader’s most intimately crafted project yet.