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Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
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Reviews

Janel Leppin — Slowly Melting
(Cuneiform Rune 559, 2026, CD / LP / DL)

Janel Leppin's Ensemble Volcanic Ash — Pluto in Aquarius
(Cuneiform Rune 558, 2026, CD / LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2026-05-30

Slowly Melting Cover artPluto in Aquarius Cover art

We have previously encountered cellist Janel Leppin as half of Janel and Anthony, as leader of Ensemble Volcanic Ash, and as a member of Skullcap, but she’s got a lot more going on than just those releases. 2026 sees Cuneiform releasing a pair of albums under her name: Slowly Melting is a true solo effort, while Pluto in Aquarius is another album with Ensemble Volcanic Ash. On the former, she plays the cello she is known for along with guitar, bass, piano, and synthesizers, and the lack of drums or percussion gives it a less intense mood, often built from only two or three parts at a time. The arrangements are relatively sparse but full of interesting details and atmospheres, and you’ll rarely hear the sound of the cello unaltered, whether its reverb, distortion, or something else, not to mention Leppin’s command of the bow and its various techniques to produce subtle differences in tone. Slowly Melting is a fascinating album that fully showcases Leppin’s talents. Pluto in Aquarius is the third release from the group called Ensemble Volcanic Ash, following on from the self-titled album and To March Is to Love (which we somehow missed reviewing), and for this outing, it’s a five-piece with Luke Stewart (bass), Anthony Pirog (guitar), Brian Settles (tenor sax), and Larry Ferguson (drums). I know it’s the standard line around here, but I have to say that this is music that does not adhere to boundaries, pulling in elements of rock, jazz, and electronic experimentation at will without ever committing to any category. It’s just the music these five people create under the direction of Janel Leppin, and it’s wonderful. It’s a little more concise than previous releases by the group due to the reduction in the number of players, but there’s still plenty going on, whether in the arranged sections or the improvisations, and they’ve chosen to operate in the realm of relatively short tracks (thirteen in all, with only one over five minutes). Titles like “Jazz Is Resistance,” “Cruel Motherfuckers,” and “Deerhoof Is God” give hints at the attitudes behind the sounds — they are not interested in being polite, smooth, or predictable in any way. And that’s how I like my music.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Janel Leppin

More info
http://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/slowly-melting-2
http://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ensemble-volcanic-ash-pluto-in-aquarius

 

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