Janel Leppin - 2026 - Slowly Melting

(38:28; Cuneiform Records)

There is no doubt that Leppin is one of the most exciting and intriguing cellists out there, always pushing the boundaries of what is expected from that instrument, and this solo album is a delight from beginning to end, a dark beauty with hidden depths. It is a true solo album as while the cello is always the main melodic lead, sometimes acoustic and sometimes fuzzed, often bowed but sometimes plucked, she also provides her own accompaniment on guitar, bass, piano and Prophet-5 synthesizer.

At times this feels far more classical than jazz or RIO, and while the cello itself may be ageless she brings in techniques which make it seem other worldly and an instrument truly adapted to the modern age. There are times when I think if she spoiled this with an electronic drum beat, I can imagine the dance and rave crowd absolutely lapping it up, especially when she moves into territory one often associates more with the likes of Tangerine Dream. This is an album which is multi-layered, and the listener is taken on a soaring journey of endless possibilities where it feels as if the music is being created out of thin air. The final track, “Kaffa House”, is very different to the rest of the album, where Janel allows herself to play just the cello, raw and unadulterated, mixing classical with jazz, RIO and so much more showing her mastery of the instrument where there is nowhere to hide. Deep and meaningful, this is a fascinating release. 

Kev Rowland, July 2026

Links:
https://janelleppin.com/
http://www.cuneiformrecords.com/