Here's a pair of very different releases from the wondrous Cuneiform label, both of them featuring cellist Janel Leppin and guitarist Anthony Pirog, from Washington DC. In fact, the Janel & Antony album consists of two LPs, both of those radically contrasting in content. The instrumental New Moon has a mostly acoustic character, even if a few electric instruments are used, evoking a soundtrack mood, dripping with a melancholy mist. Indian-style drones are overlaid by filigree cello, with a classical guitar influence apparent in Pirog's approach (even though he often rocks out when fronting his own bands).

A light-headed cello sometimes edges towards a violin tone, as it floats through ballad prog-parts. Slowness reigns, and the mood sustains, with occasional piano infiltrating, ‘Fog Curls Around Cypress’ sounding quite Morricone. ‘Slight Sense’ features some slick guitar parts, then ‘Rhizome’ highlights the expressive cello, with its slightly abrasive edge. The finest track arrives last, with the particularly evocative atmosphere of ‘Crystal Wish’, almost Fripp & Eno in nature, with electric guitar stretching out, relishing the melody. ‘New Moon 2’ is a complete disappointment, with Leppin singing soft pop songs in a dated fashion, clearly indebted to the likes of Mazzy Star. There is little here, perhaps, for readers of Jazzwise.

Leppin's album with Volcanic Ash is completely within Jazzwise territory, operating a chance-taking instrumental show of imagination. Luke Stewart plays bass. Darkness and abrasiveness swoop in for a composed storm-gathering, drums circling with force, bringing forth thoughts of the Finnish drummer Edward Vesala. They only need 1'31” to say it all, as the tracks range upwards through three minutes to six.

Leppin initiates a cello riff that's reminiscent of ‘The Blimp’, by Captain Beefheart, tenor tensed for a solo. The leader enjoys loading her compositions with a riffing momentum, overlaid with untethered solos, thoughts also going out to Arthur Blythe and Henry Cow, in this bluesy, arty combination. Pirog unveils his angrier electric style on ‘Union Art’, then the title track climbs an abstract peak, towards the doomy progressions of ‘Guidance Received’. These discs sound radically different, but Volcanic Ash is the easy leader.