Cut

Popularly regarded as one of the most important and groundbreaking British albums of all time, 1979s Cut, by The Slits has, rightly, seen several reissues on the LP format over the years. It's stature as a classic seems to have only grown since it's initial impact and it's influence on what came after remains incalculable from Riot Grrrl to Culture Club, from Massive Attack and Tricky to Hole and Nirvana (Kurt Cobain cited Typical Girls as one of his favourite recordings ever) it's impossible to underestimate it's influence on leftfield outsider musicians to this day. For Record Store Day 2023 it's a first outing on vinyl for pioneering producer Dennis Bovells Rough Mixes* of the album, previously unearthed as part of the research for 2009s anniversary CD Deluxe Edition of the album. As a standalone vinyl piece Rough Cut, then, presents an entire alternative version of Cut, plus the addition of the bands startling cover of I Heard It Through The Grapevine. It also shines a light on Bovells superb initial mixes which pack a raw power and punch to rival the final, finessed versions ultimately released as Cut. Arguably, these mixes could have ended up being the official versions and Cut would still be able to claim it's place alongside PiLs Metal Box, and Joy Divisions Unknown Pleasures as 1979s most groundbreaking albums. What they demonstrate are a band and their producer pouring myriad musical influences in search of an entirely new musical language. For this incarnation of Cut Slits guitarist Viv Albertine advised on a new alternate treatment for the sleeve and, for the inner bangs sleeve notes, has donated a new Q&A essay reflecting on the albums recording, The Slits uncompromising musical ethos, and their place in history as post-punks premiere female musical revolutionaries. Rough Cut makes for both a fascinating listen and a fascinating read. *Note: as no Rough Mix of Soend, Spend, Spend exists in the Island Records archive, Rough Cut instead places the bands original 8-track demo instead.