Musicians Together Magazine Review of The Age of Sail:
Musicians Together Magazine wrote up a fantastic review for the Age of Sail EP very recently. Here's some of what they said:
"...Lovely acoustic playing, confident well delivered vocals, augemted here and there with a little harmonica and e-bow. They’re the sort of songs that make you want to sit up and listen carefully. As per the title, a nautical theme does emerge . Perhaps it is a romantic look back at seemingly simpler more easy going times. Of course this theme can easily be applied to love also! The title track ‘The Age Of Sail’ is a nice mid tempo Dylanesqe piece and tells a good story ‘as the light it fades, in the age of sail..’
My favourite track is the opener ‘Bywater.’ Jaunty vocals and guitar take you on a feel good trip you can easily relate to, ‘I was the breeze that opened your door, and now when I knock it opens no more..’. This track alone is a good enough reason own the CD..."
For the full review, click HERE.
Wordlegs.com Feature
The lyrics for 'The Edge of the World' from The Age of Sail EP were included for publication in the Autumn 2011 edition of Wordlegs, an online literary magazine dedicated to emerging Irish writers and artists.
It's great to see music and song lyrics being recognised as a real and relevant part of our written language.
Read more at the address below:
http://wordlegs.com/magazine/viewitem.php?id=115
Music Review Unsigned Review of The Age of Sail:
The Age of Sail review was published from Music Review Unsigned (22/04/2011):
"Alan Tully has been around the Dublin music scene since 2005, The Age of Sail is his debut EP containing five songs of pure folk music, as folk music goes it should be played with gentle guitar strokes and melodic vocals, Tully has nailed it on The Age Of Sail, each song on the EP has its own character but revolves around the whole Tully sound, the stand out song for me on this EP is Edge Of The World, Alan's voice takes full control of the mood in this tune, emotion and passion drives the superb lyrics, along with the rest of the songs on The Age of Sail this debut EP is something for Tully to be proud of."
5/6
Review by Trevor Halpin
Hotpress Review of The Age of Sail:
A long overdue but not unwelcome review of the Age of Sail was published in the latest issue of Hotpress (Volume 35 Issue 14) by Jackie Hayden. Overall it was very positive and encouraging stuff, especially about the tracks 'Bywater' and 'The Age of Sail', and though he wasn't a big fan of 'The Town Across the Bay' he makes a good point about the vocals on the track to remember for the future. Here's the review:
"The Age of Sail is Alan Tully's debut EP. On 'Bywater' he takes a basically folky track and adds an e-bow for some tasty sonic flavours to his light, but not unpleasant, double tracked vocals. 'The Town Across the Bay' is dated in style with Tully's vocal not as distinct as it needs to be. The title track continues the marine theme and is a more sprightly effort, evoking the folk stylings of the late '50s and '60s that Liam Merriman has mastered."
Review by Jackie Hayden (Hotpress Volume 35 Issue 14)
Bywater Features on 2UIBestow:
2UIBestow the Irish music blog we're kind enough to include 'Bywater' in their latest digital mixtape introducing new Irish bands and acts. A thoroughly nice gesture from them. The mixtape can be found here:
http://2uibestow.blogspot.com/2011/07/introducing-mixtape-of-new-irish-bands.html
Live Session on Idir Linn on DSFM 93.9, 2nd April 2011
This set was recorded on Idir Linn with Brendan Hickey on Dublin South FM. It includes live versions of 'The Age of Sail', 'Dreamin' My Old Life Away' and 'Breaking into Day'. I also manage to scrape cupla focail as Gaeilge together to fit with the Irish language vibe of the show.