The format is : CD and download
It will be released on : 21st May 2008
The label is : Hushland Records
Press Release by paul@plugtwo.com
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 by and featuring Martyn Joseph, Red Tree is a significant work for Taylor-Beales that blends her mix of folk, country and Americana in a bewitching, otherworldly fashion.
Rachel’s background is one of many homes and many places. Before she hit 12 she’d lived in 13 different houses and had relocated five times between Australia and the UK. Her parents, both artists, inspired her to pick up a guitar and she’d begun writing songs by the age of 14. After getting married and moving to Australia, Rachel and her husband sung and painted their way around the country as a performing arts company, enjoying it so much that they and the merry band of artists they’d picked up along the way decided never to get proper jobs.
Now based in Cardiff, Rachel has settled down and is well into a career as a solo artist. 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.
Rachel Taylor-Beales plays live – Barfly, Cardiff (07/04), Folk Club, Bournemouth (27/04), The Point, Cardiff (14/05), 60 Million Postcards, Bournemouth (19/05), The Beehive, Swindon (21/05), Kelvedon Institute, Essex (13/06), Two Rivers Festival, Chepstow (04/07), Blissfields Festival, Winchester (06/07), Secret Garden Party, Huntingdon (27/07).
