Rose McDowall: Cut With The Cake Knife (remastered) [SACRED BONES]

Why you'll love it

A new remaster of Rose McDowall's solo debut, built from songs written for Strawberry Switchblade's never-finished second album. It mixes dreamy 80s pop with darker edges, and closes with her version of Blue Öyster Cult's "Don't Fear The Reaper".

This edition

• Newly remastered
• Eleven tracks across two sides, from "Tibet" to "Crystal Days"

About the album

Rose McDowall was half of Strawberry Switchblade, the Glasgow duo whose 1984 hit "Since Yesterday" paired polka dots with surprisingly sad songs, and she went on to work with Coil, Current 93 and Psychic TV. Cut With The Cake Knife gathers songs she wrote for the duo's second album, which never arrived, and records them her way.

"Tibet", "Sunboy" and "Wings Of Heaven" keep the bright, chiming melodies, while "Crystal Nights", "So Vicious" and a hushed take on Blue Öyster Cult's "Don't Fear The Reaper" let the darker side in. It's the missing link between 80s indie pop and the folk-tinged underground she later explored. Sacred Bones has a habit of rescuing great records from obscurity; this is one of their kindest rescues.

Tracklist

Listen

Out September 25, 2026 on Sacred Bones (cat# SBR3017).