Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Bad Mothers Union – Cut In Half (2026)

No venue or audience too small, Irish musical collective Bad Mothers Union wish to share their music with the masses, whether it’s in an underground bar with two people or a massive stadium with 1,000s of listeners ready and waiting. Drawing together the talents of musicians Conor Kavanagh (vocals and guitar), Shayne English (bass), Tim Flood (bass), Céin O’Dowd (guitar bouzouki), James O’Neill (drums and percussion), and Ethan Corcoran (guitar, bass and vocals), Bad Mothers Union has a larger-than-life sound, but with the mellow appeal of a warm summer’s day in the middle of May. The latest addition to their discography is the single, ‘Cut In Half’.

Following the well-received singles, ‘Fun For 5 Year Olds’ and ‘God’s Intercom’, the sensational sextet meet Joel Pitcher (guitar, bass and vocals), Michael Lanigan (guitar, bass and vocals) and Aaron Harbourne (drums and percussion) to concoct the new track, ‘Cut In Half’. I know, there are a lot of names here… just go with it. The fact is, while all the artists have their moments, the harmonious arrangement and production is entirely united, rhythmic and symphonic in a way.

Unlike ‘God’s Intercom’ coming in as just under five minutes in length, ‘Cut In Half’, once again, exceeds the traditional three to four minute radio edit at almost eight minutes. I might say that this is a bit much – an extended play without any other option; yet, there’s no need to take a deep breath and prepare yourself, as the track is, honestly, too short, encapsulating a wistful, ethereal sensation.

Near impossible to extricate each instrument from the other, the almost eerie tune is a weave of guitars, a binding of basses, and a slip of synths wavering across a sonic forest with an almost palpable oscillation between tranquillity and tension. A steady drumbeat pulsates in the background, almost in a tribal way; however, the mist of strings and percussion swoon across, inserting a haunting feeling within this off-kilter mire of music.

For me, ‘Cut In Half’ has no definition, no label, no genre, and by the end, you aren’t quite sure what you just listened to. If this is the taster for Bad Mothers Union’s upcoming EP, I am both eager and apprehensive for what is to come.  



Find out more about Bad Mothers Union on their FacebookXInstagramTikTokBandcamp and Spotify.

This artist was sent to us by Old Crows Promotions.


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