Folk singer June Tabor tells CHARLES HUTCHINSON why she is so taken with the power of the word.

JUNE Tabor has always had a thing for balladry. Now this refined, dark and warm interpreter of traditional and contemporary song has made an album comprised solely of ballads.

On Wednesday, she will be performing a selection from An Echo Of Hooves, along with other musical fine wine from the Tabor cellar, in her first appearance at the National Centre for Early Music in York.

"The strength of the storytelling: that is something that has always attracted me to songs in particular, but to poems, short stories and novel writing too," June says. "It is the power of the word that interests me, whether direct or indirect, as a short story is, and ballads seem to have so much going for them in terms of powerful, often disturbing stories.

"In a ballad, there's the power of suggestion of a fleeting moment where everything that is to come can be suggested in three sentences of very intense images. The narrative is direct, with very sparing use of adjectives, and it's a very simple way of telling stories that works very well."

June is drawn to folk ballads for a further reason. "The whole point of this music is its timelessness and yet its absolute relevance and the way it can touch you to the quick in such a short time," she says.

"I truly believe it is the cinema in your head, and if anyone dismisses that, I am sorry for them. This is not pretty music but the words demand attention, yet some people are uncomfortable with words and any form of coherent language."

Such thinking goes against the grain of the ambient music of today with its eschewing of lyrics.

"Chill-out and background music is one of the functions of music but I do find it depressing that so little regard is given to words and songs dealing with strong and difficult issues - which is mostly what life is about," June says.

"Those who choose to put that to one side are missing out on that thing of tragedy and catharsis and coming out the other side a different person. That belief is enforced by what people say to me at concerts, when they come up afterwards and say 'That song changed my life'."

Never mind all the plaudits that come her way, June Tabor is still seeking to master the art of song interpretation. "I suppose I will never stop learning. It's a case of wanting to share the emotion that a song has stirred in me and doing the song justice. I can't write a song, I never will, but I know I can spot a good traditional song."

New album An Echo Of Hooves certainly affirms that belief.

June Tabor, with Huw Warrem piano, Tim Harries, double bass, and Mark Emerson, violin/viola, plays the National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate, York, October 8, 7.30pm. Tickets: £12, concessions £10; ring 01904 658338. Concert organised by the Black Swan Folk Club, York.

Updated: 09:57 Friday, October 03, 2003