They are not the same remixes. Mixed Up, released in 1990, contains 11 remixed versions of The Cure songs; Torn Down, released in 2018, features 16 new remixes by Robert Smith. Between them sits Mixed Up Extras, a set of 11 historical mixes dating from 1982 to 1990. The three-CD Deluxe edition of Mixed Up brings all three sets together, but they have different origins. And a newly made remix does not necessarily mean the band recorded a new performance.
What is on each of the three CDs?
The Cure's official store and Rhino clearly identify the three parts of the reissue. The year 2018 appears throughout because the historical material was remastered for that release; it does not turn earlier mixes into brand-new remixes.
| Set | Content and origin | Deluxe edition |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed Up | 11 remixes from the original 1990 album, presented with 2018 mastering. | CD 1 |
| Mixed Up Extras | 11 historical remixes from 1982 to 1990, including rare versions, remastered in 2018. | CD 2 |
| Torn Down | 16 remixes created by Robert Smith for the project released in 2018. | CD 3 |
That makes 38 tracks in all (11 + 11 + 16). Mixed Up Extras refers to the additional historical material on the second disc, while Torn Down: Mixed Up Extras 2018 is the name attached to the new remix project. The overlap in these names makes store listings and announcements easy to misread.
Remastering, remixing and re-recording are different things
Remastering processes an existing mix for a new release. Remixing returns to elements of a recording to create a different sonic combination, potentially changing balances, effects and structure. Re-recording involves performing or recording musical parts again. These terms are not interchangeable.
The Deluxe edition's first two CDs contain historical mixes in newly remastered form. The 16 tracks on Torn Down are fresh remixes of catalogue songs, rather than an album presented as 16 completely new studio performances. Rhino's announcement also records an important historical exception: for Mixed Up in 1990, A Forest and The Walk were reconstructed in the studio with Mark Saunders because the original multitrack tapes had been lost. Some re-recording was therefore involved in the 1990 project, but it does not define Torn Down as a whole.
Four track examples that clear up the confusion
A song title on its own is not enough to establish which audio version is on a disc. The mix designation beside the title matters.
| Song | Versions on the Deluxe edition |
|---|---|
| Pictures of You | Extended Dub Mix on CD 1; Extended Version 1990 on CD 2. |
| Close to Me | Closer Mix on CD 1; Extended Mix 1985 on CD 2. |
| Just One Kiss | Extended Mix 1982 on CD 2; Remember Mix 2018 on CD 3. |
| Never Enough | Big Mix on CD 1; Time to Kill Mix 2018 on CD 3. |
Just One Kiss is a particularly useful example: the song appears again, but its historical extended version and Robert Smith's new mix are not one identical mix with two names. The same distinction applies to Never Enough.
Why did Robert Smith make Torn Down?
According to Rhino's 2018 announcement, Smith wanted a three-CD package, but the recovered historical remixes were not enough to fill two additional discs. He decided to make new versions instead. The work began with an experiment on Three Imaginary Boys in August 2017, and the announcement says all 16 remixes were finished by October of that year. So Torn Down is accurately described as a 2018 release even though these remixes were created in 2017.
Its title also grew out of the process. Smith explained that he stripped Never Enough back to something closer to an early demo called PhaseAGE. For Torn Down, he selected songs from different periods of the catalogue rather than focusing only on the better-known singles associated with Mixed Up. The 16 tracks include Three Imaginary Boys, Plainsong, Want, Cut Here and Lost.
Which version should you choose?
- Remastered Mixed Up: choose it to explore the 1990 concept, including Lullaby (Extended Mix), Close to Me (Closer Mix) and A Forest (Tree Mix).
- Torn Down: choose it for the 16 new mixes Robert Smith prepared for the 2018 release. It was also issued separately as a double vinyl album.
- Mixed Up Deluxe, three CDs: this is the most comprehensive way to compare the original album, 11 historical extras and 16 Torn Down mixes in one collection.
When buying a physical edition or selecting a digital release, check the track listing and advertised format. A 2018 remaster label means fresh mastering, while names such as Remember Mix 2018 and Time to Kill Mix 2018 identify new remixes. This distinction is more helpful than assuming the two albums contain identical recordings or entirely new studio sessions.
