A Chopping Block

As one of three guitarists in Le Loup's lineup, May Tabol rarely had the chance to shine, always playing the female foil to frontman Sam Simkoff but seldom occupying the spotlight herself. Released several months after her departure from the band, A Chopping Block finds the songwriter leading her own band, with various D.C. musicians lending their contributions to her smart, crooked folk songs. Tabol's voice isn't conventionally pretty, its wobbly tones more reminiscent of Appalachian field recordings than contemporary songbirds, but her songs take strength in that rustic spirit, sounding distinctive and somewhat timeless as a result. She plays guitar with a loose hand on "Heaven in a Drag" and "In the Parlor," emphasizing acoustic riffs over chords, while the others add bits of flute, violin, dobro, and glockenspiel to the mix. "Lack of Flight" and "Light Fails" both trade the guitars for Tabol's piano skills, a move that lends an elegant counterpoint to the EP's overtly folksy tunes. This is a far cry from Le Loup's sonic bombast, of course, but it's just as endearing, with pleasant songs and cleverly tongue-twisting lyrics that help show the breadth of Tabol's ability.