Alva Noto has released a cover of The Cure’s 1980 track “A Forest,” available now via NOTON.

Approved by Robert Smith (The Cure) himself, Noto’s rework is a study of the original score, subtly breaking into its own components, progressions and moods. It reveals the acoustic and harmonic complexities in the original track—the ’80s reverb-heavy guitar sounds, the organ’s ghoulish murmur, and the sudden flashes of synthesizers dissolve into an almost weightless fusion of warm chords, melodic fragments, and oscillating digital tones.

“The Cure’s ‘A Forest’ has always reminded me of the feeling of ‘coming home,’ and, above all, the intro always gave me lots of emotions and excitement,” Noto tells XLR8R. ” I was 15 years old when the song was released. At the time my desire for good music started to grow, and, of course, I would look for sounds that reflected the time and age I was living.”

Noto continues: “40 years after its release, I still bow to it and feel grateful that it exists.”

Tracklisting

01. A Forest (The Cure Cover)

A Forest is out now on vinyl and digitally via NOTON. Meanwhile, you can stream the track below.