Reviewed by Niall Dunne

'Red Tree' is Cardiff-based Rachel's second album. Produced by Martyn Joseph, an underground legend of the "singer/songwriter" genre, the album has anger, rage and passion but all wrapped in a parcel marked "fragile". Straight away, the subtle and gradual fading in of the title track sets the tone. Joseph's attention to detail in the production really stands out here. There is a vibrant canvas of colour in the sound, but with every chord strummed and every note sung you can imagine the room it's being played in. Taylor-Beales has a unique voice. You wouldn't call it sweet, but gritty and troubled. "Something Aches" displays this beautifully. The opening dissonant piano chords are quite haunting and this uneasy feeling lingers as the lone voice accompanies it. The wandering melodies are not so much catchy as attention grabbing. Listening to 'Red Tree', you can't help being interested in what is being said, and this has surely been encouraged by Martyn Joseph, a master of communicating his message through song. It wouldn't be surprising if Rachel Taylor-Beales has much, much more to say in the near future.

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