Music is definitely The Cure, my friend.

They’ve had a long sit on that shelf of all-time favourite bands.

Though I listen to them quite regularly, I picked up a slightly lesser-known release from Out Of Time Records for my partner, who isn’t quite as swooned by them as I am. Mixed Up is a generous album full of fat extended mixes, including a dub remix of Pictures of You, which has always been one of my long-time favourites. Hearing another version of it was strangely intriguing, especially on the record player.

Released in 1990, it sits in that late-80s / early-90s remix culture moment, where bands were reworking their own material into longer, more atmospheric versions rather than straight radio edits. It was a different era for experimental sound as artists were rebuilding music for a different world entirely, with Club culture, 12-inch singles, and extended formats.

What’s interesting about this record is it’s not really a “greatest hits remixed” situation, but it does give The Cure a wider, more spacious sound – like the band stepping back into their own catalogue to reshape its atmosphere rather than its structure.

Some tracks work brilliantly in that space, some feel more like a document of the time than something essential, but that’s part of the charm. It’s not trying to improve the originals, it’s looking at them from different angles.

And that’s what I particularly enjoyed about it as a Cure fan-you’re stepping out of that familiar territory and experiencing music you already love in a completely different way. It also made me stop and think just how talented they are as musicians- how they play with dynamics, shifting between the many layers, textures, and moods.

A lot of reviews point out it arrived after the emotional weight of Disintegration, so it feels more like a release valve than a statement album- leaning into club influence and extended reworkings without losing the melancholic grit they’re known for.

Some critics praised that willingness to reshape their own material, while others argued it feels more like a product of remix culture than a fully cohesive artistic statement -so interesting, but not essential. Pictures of You (Extended Dub Mix) is often singled out as one of the stronger reinterpretations, shifting the mood without breaking the identity of the original.

Personally, I find it an alternative gem. The sound articulates itself so well on vinyl – laid out thick and clear with tracks like Caterpillar coming through brilliantly.

My partner became a Cure fan after this record. So, to me, that says it’s probably worth a listen.

Concept: A remix album featuring extended and reworked versions of previously released tracks
Notable tracks:
 • Pictures of You (Extended Dub Mix)
 • Lullaby (Extended Mix)
 • Close to Me (Closest Mix)
Notable detail: The album leans heavily into late-80s/early-90s remix culture, giving The Cure’s atmospheric sound a more spacious, club-influenced edge.