Record Reviews

KEVIN KASTNING / MARK WINGFIELD ~ ELEVEN ROOMS GREYDISC 3528 (Barcode: 888295366441) ~ USA ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the fifth album by a guitar duo comprising of American guitarist / composer Kevin KastningFind albums by this artist and British guitarist / composer Mark WingfieldFind albums by this artist. Kastning, who is also an instrument inventor, plays the 36-string double contraguitar and the 30-string contra-alto guitar in addition to classical guitar and mandolin. Wingfield plays electric guitar. The album presents eleven spontaneous compositions, inspired by the paintings of the great 17th Century Dutch Artist, Johannes VermeerFind albums by this artist. The duo explores the realm of Ambient music, with a lot of sounds and effects, painting sonic vistas on the flow, which contain no melody or logical continuity, and in spite of my openness towards music, leave me completely cold. This might perhaps work in a multimedia setting, such as cinematic soundtrack, visual exhibition or similar environment, but as music meant to be listened to it simply fails to connect the dots for me. I am fully aware of Wingfield´s superb efforts in the Jazz and Fusion fields and I am a huge fun of his work there, but the Ambient setting somehow does not grab me. On the other hand if these two musicians record together for the fifth time, there must be something to make this happen and it´s only me who fails to see / hear it. I´m sure many other listeners might find this music interesting and enjoyable, so don´t take my word for it and explore this album yourself.

Updated: 16/02/2016Posted: 16/02/2016

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