Say She She – Cut & Rewind – Album Review
by Cathy Brown

Say She She’s Cut & Rewind is a record that brims with urgency, written – according to the band – in the brief spaces between relentless touring and studio sessions. That tension gives the album its pulse: the opening title track sets the tone with a confident sweep of harmonies and a groove that immediately pulls the listener into their signature “discodelic” world.

Where their earlier albums, Prism and Silver, honed the trio’s retro-inspired sound, this third release transforms it into something sharper, more political, dense with sound and meaning. Compared with the lush, layered soundscapes of those previous releases, this album is leaner and more urgent. Songs don’t open politely; they kick the door down, stake their ground, and slam the door shut on the way out.

Part of its force comes from an acute awareness of disco’s history.  ‘Disco Life’ is the record’s mission statement, a reclamation of a genre that’s always been political, whether people like to admit it or not. Their chant-like harmonies ride a slinky bassline to reframe the dancefloor as a site of resistance where it’s not just about dancing, it’s about remembering who disco belonged to in the first place. The same theme of opposition shines on ‘She Who Dares’, which imagines a dystopia where women’s rights are stripped away but still manages to strut. That tension —between bleak themes and bright grooves — is the album’s calling card. Defiance is channelled into a dazzling, danceable celebration.

The rest of the record finds a balance between message and melody. ‘Possibilities’ is a stunning showcase for the three lead vocals, focusing on the power of their voices, both individually and as a group, soaring over a funk-infused arrangement. ‘Under the Sun’ is an anthem of solidarity with a breezy swing that makes collective struggle sound radiant. ‘Little Kisses’ slows the tempo, letting their harmonies shimmer with a delicacy reminiscent of Minnie Riperton, while closing track ‘Make It Known’ expands into a more contemporary funk-soul territory, showcasing the group’s adventurous streak. Across the first four songs alone, the band move convincingly through a range of genres: new-wave punk, ‘60s orchestral, classic Disco and ‘80s funk and soul.

There are moments where the sheer density of ideas — political commentary, intricate harmonies, layered arrangements — threatens to overwhelm the songs. Yet even at its busiest, Cut & Rewind holds together through the trio’s unshakable chemistry. Their voices, individually distinct yet seamlessly intertwined, remain the album’s core instrument, carrying both its beauty and its bite.

Ultimately, Cut & Rewind is more than a revival; it is a reclamation of disco and its radical roots. Say She She have created their most fully realised work to date, one that insists music can be joyous and political, nostalgic and forward-looking, body-moving and thought-provoking all at once. It’s an album with a message, but it never sacrifices the groove.