Kevin Kastning - 2026 - Codex II

(39:52; Greydisc)

“But wait, there’s more!” (as they say on those annoying TV ads). Not content with releasing ‘Codex I’, we also get ‘Codex II’, released on the same date. Many of the pieces are connected to the first album, at least in title, and one wonders if Kevin had thought about releasing this as a double CD set instead of two separate albums, given one is 45 minutes in length and the other 40. There is also a separate argument of possibly cutting some material and releasing it as a single disc, but I am truly glad he did not as there is something very special here.

The concept and approach are the same here as on ‘Codex I’, so much of the same commentary and descriptions still apply, but I discovered there is something “more” about this album. I must confess I am not sure if it is just falling under the spell of Kevin having always played this after listening yet again to the first one, or if this one is actually that bit more special, but when playing this time stands still, and all that exists are the notes, nothing else matters. It is massively complex, hugely challenging to play, yet for the intricacies there is still plenty of room for space and reverb, ensuring the dynamics are kept clear and contrasting as we are taken on a voyage of discovery. This is a hugely compelling album, not only on a technical and skill level, but very much on the musical level as somehow Kastning is creating otherworldly sounds and compositions which totally make sense, played on instruments he created, taking us to new levels of consciousness. It is as if most painters only use shades of grey, but he is in technicolour which allows him to bring different worlds to life in ways others can only imagine. Having listened to many of his albums, solo and with others, there is no doubt this is my favourite to date, absolutely essential. 

Kev Rowland, March 2026

Links:
https://www.kevinkastning.com/
http://www.greydisc.com/