Red Tree is Rachel Taylor-Beales' 2nd album and is the 2nd part of her colour trilogy that began with her debut album, Brilliant Blue. Recorded, produced and featuring Martyn Joseph, this is a significant work for Taylor-Beales that blends her mix of folk, country and Americana in a bewitching, otherworldly fashion.
Red Tree is an album of great drama inspired by the music she heard as a child (Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell), her modern day fixations (Iron And Wine, Ani DiFranco) and by The Red Tree, an illustrated children's book by Shaun Tan. Much like the book, the album reflects the fear and wonder of childhood. It's haunting, sometimes eerie, vivid and often beautiful.
Much of Red Tree takes British folk as its starting point. But Taylor-Beales takes the genre in a new direction, adding in hypnotic, echoing vocals, subtle strings and country/blues tones so that something entirely new is created. Her voice ranges from strong and powerful to wispy and dreamy. Her storytelling recounts her observations with humour, elegance, anger and sweetness. Together, the impact of Rachel's songs of great melody, the wistful ambience and her charming stories combine to create a startlingly affecting work.
