Plainsong - The Cure track review

The Cure’s Plainsong, the first track of their ‘89 album Disintegration is, to me, one of the most beautiful musical recordings of all time. Opening on a few gentle wind chime-like sounds before being hit by an ethereal wall of synths, announced by a solitary cymbal hit, immediately draws the listener into a deep focus the song maintains for its full 5 minutes. Held together by its gorgeous six-string bassline overlaid with the iconic luscious synthesiser, the song invokes a deep, almost aching longing, diving fully into the vast, drawn out notes of the aforementioned bass. Another notable layer of instrumentation is the fleeting guitar line that appears throughout the track, floating on top of the soundscape, lending the song an intermittent fragility. As a whole the instrumental comes together to provide a legitimately stunning sound that feels like a physical blow to the listener. The real genius of the song, and what really accentuates its beauty, is Robert Smith’s vocal contributions appearing in the second half. Smith sings of a deeply somber, introspective conversation, adding a new layer of intimacy to the track, happening between two people, presumably lovers;  delivered in a softer, melancholic tone used throughout the LP. The lyrics further the instrumental’s yearning quality, especially in the bridge, the last words spoken. “Sometimes you make me feel like I’m living at the edge of the world” is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful, genuine descriptions of love ever put to music, that despite my attempts i cannot put fully into words. A certain coldness also underlines the lyrics, there’s a pain in both the singer and the subject, it's cold like “if you were dead” Smith sings, relating the song’s weather to his outlook on life at the time of writing. Perhaps serving as a distraction from this, and a hint of warmth before the lyric’s earnest climax, is the repeated line “And then you smiled for a second”. There exists within the track a beautiful, loving, melancholic power, defined by the dialogue between the lovers and exemplified by the presumed emotion in this simple smile. The melody and lyrics join in a perfect harmony that enters the listener’s heart empathising them with the song’s themes in a way that only music can and instills an ocean-deep longing within it. Plainsong by The Cure is a work of true beauty, through its intimately provoking lyrics as well as its gorgeous wall of sound instrumentals.