Flaming June is the project of veteran folk
singer-songwriter Louise Hamilton. She plays traditional English folk music
with backing line-up which includes Celtic-like percussion, upright bass and a
violin. Originating from Cambridgeshire, Hamilton under Flaming June have
all the opportunities to play their style of music to a wide audience - the hub of UK folk.
Their songs tend to be rather poignant in an old fashioned requital manner. The
track we're looking at today "Rumpelstiltskin", tells the fairy tale
story of the magical imp called Rumpelstiltskin, who after helping a women make
gold for her life (caused by her father's boasting,) requests the taking
of her first born child. This track is taken from the EP Rumpelstiltskin & the
Perils and Promises of Womanhood. Hamilton uses the tale of Rumpelstiltskin as a metaphor, pulling it
off with creativity and tackling oppression with conviction.
Hamilton sings: "You won't take what's precious to me, I'll hide it away," on the first verse. The uplifting and challenging chorus is by far the greatest aspect of "Rumpelstiltskin", Hamilton goes on to sing: "I won't play your games, I know your name. I won't play your games, Rumpelstiltskin." The combination of Hamilton's in depth lyricism with her at ease guitar playing and emotional vocal creates a rubbernecking of the original tale. "Rumpelstiltskin" is an impressive song that's boosted by Hamilton's temperament towards the German tale. She's created a metaphorical visualisation of the song with modern useage, and by doing this she's created a her own tale.
~Eddie
