Greenman review - December 2004

Tulca mor's second album, Into The Night sees this Australian band playing Irish music with some local songs and original tunes. They play in a nice uncluttered style -- no flash, or hyper-speed, just good music well played and arranged. Production is spacious and clear with instruments and vocals breathing in syncopation and harmony, and the result recalls Altan in places, especially on 'Willie Coleman's'. Accordionist Claire Fitzpatrick and fiddler Fed Graham are both adroit instrumentalists and Steve Cook's bouzouki and guitarist Andrew Heath back up complimentarily. Jenny Fitzgibbon's voice fits into the equation like a glove and her readings of The Widow's Lament and the 7-minute epic Ronald Ryan both composed by Mark Cryle echo as standout performances and she injects Richard Thompson's Galway to Graceland with a fresh poignancy. Into The Night is a uplifting, enjoyable, and noteworthy -- all that a good Celtic album ought to be.

Trad & Now Magazine - March 2004 by Cathy Bell

If you were recently at Woodford Folk Festival, you may recall Celtic band Tulca Mor’s stirring performance at the customary Fire Event on New Year’s Eve. While lanterns blazed and effigies burned, the sounds of an ancient culture filled the smoky valley to the accompaniment of a 300 piece choir. It was the culmination of a very busy year for Musical Director and renowned fiddle player Fred Graham.

Somehow during this time he also found time to record an album with his band Tulca Mor. ‘Into the Night’ is their second album and features the vocals of award-winning singer Jenny Fitzgibbon. Born and raised in Ireland, her velvety smooth vocals have lent an air of authenticity to the recording.

When Tulca Mor heard Jenny singing in the Green Room at the previous Woodford Folk Festival, they offered her work as a guest vocalist alongside other fantastic singers like Suzy Fish and Leah Cotterell. Tulca Mor is essentially an instrumental band featuring fiddle, accordion, bouzouki and guitar however the musical bond between Jenny and the band was such that she has recorded several songs with them on this latest album.

The respect is mutual with Jenny stating that “she is delighted to play with four such good musicians. I sit back and listen to the tunes and I love it. I have the best seat in the house! It’s a privilege to play with them.”

Surprisingly it was not until she arrived in Australia that Jenny started singing traditional music. “When I was growing up, folk music was the horrid Foster and Allen style music but just before I left Ireland I went to a trad music session in a pub. I didn’t know what to do and the barman said people just start singing. Everyone stopped talking and listened to every note. Then they cheer, say well done and go on talking. It was great fun.” From this auspicious start, she has gone on to become on of Australia’s leading proponents of Celtic singing.

This album is more than a mere collection of tracks. Tulca Mor have expanded the palette of traditional music, giving the tunes unexpected, subtle twists and embracing an eclectic range of material, most notably two songs by local Brisbane songwriter Mark Cryle ‘Widows Lament’ and ‘Ronald Ryan’ and Richard Thompson’s ‘From Galway to Graceland’.

“Widow’s Lament is written in a traditional genre and is beautiful” says Jenny. “I love songs that have a story like From Galway to Graceland. It’s about a woman who heads off and does her own thing. It’s a damn good story. I’d never go the way of Mary Black – I just love the older stuff. Mark’s songs were so beautifully crafted – they weren’t modern sounding at all. I like songs that touch me in some way.”

Their approach on ‘Into the Night’ is fresh and open minded – the music goes beyond Irish traditional music yet always stays true to the roots of the music. Recorded live (with the exception of Jenny’s vocals) there is a palpable sense of joy as the musicians play off each other, capturing them at their fleet fingered best. Guest percussionist Greg Sheehan provides a solid foundation upon which the music skips, skitters, changes rhythm and tempo, all in perfect unison.

Although their ambitions are humble “to sell 500 CD’s and record again”, the demand for their genuine, high-energy music and their growing reputation as one of Australia’s premier Celtic bands has kept them very busy indeed. 2004 is already proving to be no exception with performances at the World Music Festival at the Brisbane Powerhouse in March as well as supporting Irish singer Niamh Parsons at the Judith Wright Centre. The band will them do a series of shows in North Queensland booked for May as well as the Celtic National Music Festival in June.