The Cure: Three Imaginary Boys Deluxe Edition

Herald rating * * *

Back in 1979, the Cure were just another band of confused haircuts, with their 20-year-old frontman Robert Smith working his way through his vocal limitations, and guitar-effects boxes.

Their time as lipsticked goth-rock stadium fillers was still years away, though the sombre 10.15 Saturday Night and the title track hints at the frostiness to come on the likes of 17 Seconds.

But even remastered and repacked their debut album still sounds like a timid first outing from a band who didn't quite have a whole album in them yet.

That was recognised when the best tracks of this one were included on their international debut LP Boys Don't Cry, discarding the naff numbers such as their ill-advised cover of Jimi Hendrix's Foxy Lady.

Amusingly, in the liner notes Smith does all he can to disown this album, again putting the boot into original drummer Lol Tolhurst, whose limitations ironically helped define the band's austere sound.

This comes packaged with a second CD of demos, out-takes and live tracks, its compilers thinking it best to leave out debut single Killing An Arab. But should you want to hear what 10.15 Saturday Night sounded like, complete with tinny organ, in Smith's Crawley bedroom ...

As for TIB itself, it's the sound of a band trying to marry spindly, sulky guitar-pop and punk and often succeeding - like on the aforementioned tracks as well as Accuracy and Grinding Halt.

It could have sounded even more tinny, had not label boss Chris Parry (a New Zealander and former Fourmyula member who also signed the Jam) insisted on Smith getting a half-decent guitar.

It has its period charm but it's no classic debut and for the Cure the gloomy best was yet to come.

Label: Universal