Red Tree

Rachel Taylor-Beales

If I ever found myself on a soul searching journey through the Australian outback this music would be a worthy companion. It's scorched emotional sentiment and warmly embracing melodies produce their own heat haze and wide horizon lines. It would be well suited to the harsh conditions as this isn't casual music but exquisite sounds murmuring from the out of the shadows.

This is Rachel Taylor-Beales second instalment in a planned trilogy of colour themed albums. Partly inspired by 'The Red Tree' story book written and illustrated by Australian Author Shaun Tan that charts one girl's journey of hope. It includes two tracks that were composed in collaboration with poet and BBC radio 4’s Broadcaster, Stewart Henderson, as well as one track written by Bill Taylor-Beales. Whereas in the studio she has been working alongside the Welsh troubadour, Martyn Joseph. Not only is he contributing on a multitude of instruments but he produces, mixes and engineers the whole affair.

Part of the natural progression of Rachel's work is the emergence of a gospel and bluegrass hybrid. Something that was always strongly hinted at before has now reached fruition with 'Liberty' and 'Please Don't Pass Me By'. It's characterized by willowy patterns of notes and deft cello that cradle Rachel's smooth vocal tones.

Elsewhere it's noticeable that the style of Rachel’s singing has altered, revealing bluesy inflections and a new found confidence. It focuses the emphasis on the all important narrative which is chosen over any conventional verse/chorus formats. Some of the evocative prose is wonderfully stark against the gentle arpeggios. The title track tells us that 'hope twists on a tyre swing' and elsewhere feelings are still frayed: 'like a part of me missing, like a part of me aching, like a part of me lost'.

Charlotte Eksteen’s cello parts were the last to be recorded and I can only agree with Rachel that, ’her contributions have taken the album to another level'. For Rachel's own playing the guitar is often more favoured for this album yet she still holds some melodic trump cards at the piano. 'Something Aches' is a masterpiece of vocal phrasing with a strong dose of her trademark surges of bubbling notes, lapping at the edges of the words.

Events build to a crescendo of searing emotional intensity on 'Lately'. A blunt piano note is repetitively hit as part of a stunningly moving coda where Rachel lets fly with 'God knows. Been running'.

It's a courageous moment when an artist puts their creativity into the public arena and Rachel can be justifiably proud. As the boundaries melt away from her playing we can hear her creative intuition being met in perfect union with her technical abilities. It may be a turbulent world, with only chinks of light, and yet 'Red Tree' is a liberating listen. It should be welcomed with open arms, ears and eyes.

David Kushar