The Second Realm :: Quotes and Reviews
Kevin Kastning & Soheil Peyghambari - 2024 - The Second Realm
(47:08; Greydisc)
*****+
Here we find Kevin Kastning (36-string double contraguitar, 17-string subcontra
guitar, 24-string double subcontraguitar, 30-string contra-alto guitar,
12-string contraguitar) again joining forces with Soheil Peyghambari (bass
Clarinet, Bb Clarinet) for the follow-up to their 2021 album, ‘The First Realm’.
Kevin is a master musician, also creating and inventing many of his own
instruments, and while on the previous release of his I reviewed he played just
one stringed instrument and piano, here he is back with many of his own
inventions, somehow knowing where all the notes are on each, and knowing what
needs to be played to complement the music being delivered by Soheil. Soheil
generally provides lengthy notes, while Kevin is producing sounds which at times
could easily have come from a harp with wonderful resonance and sustain with so
many strings resonating at the same time. Soheil’s sounds are often low in the
register, so in many ways there is space between the two musicians yet that is
not always the case. There are some bass notes in “The Sphere of Further” which
shows Kevin jump beneath Soheil, who provides the constant presence with an
almost Arabian sound as Kevin moves between instruments and styles – he also
allows Soheil to be there on his own, adding drama and contrast to the overall.
They refuse to be bound by convention, and keep moving in their own directions,
together yet individual, contrasting in so many ways yet also being part of the
same musical journey as they weave their threads together to make something
vital and strong. When they completed the sessions for the first album, they
agreed this would not be the last time they worked together, and I for one am
very pleased to come back for a second as this yet another magical album which
is well worth investigating.
- Kev Rowland
Progressor Magazine (UZBEKISTAN)
June 2024
KEVIN KASTNING/ SOHEIL PEYGHAMBARI – THE SECOND REALM (2024)
(Greydisc)
An international enterprise involving: Kevin Kastning on 36-string double
contraguitar (which he invented), 24-string double subcontraguitar, 30-string
contra-alto guitar, 17-string extended hybrid classical and 12-string
contraguitar (Yes, you read that right!). Kevin studied at Berklee College of
Music in Boston (and privately with PAT METHENY), and has composed more than 200
pieces for soloists and chamber groups, with a discography of over 50 albums AND
Soheil Peyghambari who studied clarinet and music composition at Tehran
Conservatory of Music. On this album he plays bass clarinet and Bb clarinet.
Sandor Szabo mixed and mastered the recording in Hungary. The cover art is by
George Korunov from Russia.
There are six tracks: on ‘Aspect Element’ the instruments used are the 15-string
subcontraguitar and the Bb clarinet. On ‘The Sphere of Further’ it is 12-string
contraguitar with bass clarinet. ‘Dimension Scope Radius’ has the 3string
contra-alto guitar and bass clarinet. On ‘The Prahlic Expanse’ Kastning plays
the same, with Soheil on Bb clarinet. ‘A Delphic Purview’ features a 12-string
baritone guitar with the bass clarinet, while ‘Aspect Element II’ has the
28-string double contraguitar with the Bb clarinet.
This fascinating album is full of ‘eastern promise’ (as on the first piece), as
they say; ethereal, haunting interchanges between the instruments and a lot more
accessible than you might imagine. The bass clarinet playing is particularly
mellifluous (and to the front) on ‘Dimension Scope Radius’. The music overall is
more atmospheric than melodic.
For guitar heads in particular who like to study technique and pure sound, “The
Second Realm” will be a real treat - witness the twangy and harpsichord-like
sounds in ‘On the Prahlic Expanse (the sustained pleading tone of the bass
clarinet provides a marvelous counterpoint; this is the I am drawn to). The
stirring arpeggios and harmonics on final number, ‘Aspect Element II’, are also
most efficacious to my ears; that is not to say there is anything not to like.
One of the great qualities of this music is that is it such an equal
partnership; the chemistry between the players borders on alchemy.
-
dimensions-in-sound-and-space webzine; March 2024
(Scotland)
Kevin Kastning / Soheil Peyghambari - The Second Realm
by Leonid Aurkern
"It seems that a lot of works by American guitarist and inventor of new types of
guitars Kevin Kastning have heard and written about them, including his 2021
duet with Iranian clarinetist Soheil Peyghambari The First Realm, but the album
The Second Realm still surprised. This, as the name implies, is the second joint
project of Kastning and Peyghambari. Kevin has significantly expanded the
arsenal of his unique guitar hybrids here, but otherwise everything seems to be
the same as the previous project: Soheil still operates with two types of
clarinets, the album, as before, was recorded in American and Iranian studios
(this time in April-May 2023), the mixing and mastering were again entrusted to
Kevin's old partner and friend, the Hungarian musician Sándor Szabó, and even
the cover of his new album is again obliged Russian Georgy Korunov, but the
result is significantly different.
Already The First Realm has shown that the Iranian partner has noticeably
enlivened and diversified his sound in comparison with other works of Kastning,
usually close to ambient. But The Second Realm in this regard, in my opinion,
surpassed its predecessor by a head. Each of the album's six pieces is an
exciting and unpredictable dialogue between guitar and clarinet. What ambient is
this! Everything looks very emotional, And in some places it's just dramatic. If
we add that the sound of the instruments of the American performer is sometimes
significantly far from what we are used to thinking of as a guitar sound, then
the overall picture becomes even more vivid and unusual. Stylistically, in my
opinion, this album is comfortably located in a fertile zone between free
improvisational jazz and modern academic chamber music. It's hard for me to
single out one of the most interesting pieces in The Second Realm. All six
tracks are like a flat and very high mountain range, the peaks of which are lost
behind the clouds. As you know, The First Realm was among the contenders for the
2022 Grammy Awards. I don't rule out the possibility of The Second Realm rising
at all to an even greater height. This album, it seems to me, is able to conquer
the hearts of not only ordinary listeners, but also the priests of the Academy
of Science and Art of Sound Recording."
(Kevin Kastning -36-string Double Contraguitar, 17-string Subcontra guitar,
24-string Double Subcontra guitar, 30-string Contra-Alto guitar, 12-string
Contraguitar; Soheil Peyghambari - bass cl, Bb cl;)
-
Jazz Quad Magazine (RUSSIA)
February 2024
Kevin Kastning & Soheil Peyghambari: The Second Realm
Kevin Kastning (contra- and subcontraguitar) and Soheil Peyghambari (bass
clarinet and Bb clarinet) have joined forces to bring us The Second Realm.
As the title suggest, this is their second release.
"The album presents 6 tracks on which both artists communicate, search and go on
a journey together, through their instruments.
The result is fascinating, emphasized by the beautiful sounds of the
instruments.
Contemporary, dream-like soundscapes.
Out on the Greydisc Records label.
Recommended listening."
-
United Mutations webzine (US)
February 2024
"I
listened to your albums, fantastic music, I really like it, the sounds of the
realm of emotion are heard, very deep thoughts, tasteful presentation.
I congratulate you with a pure heart, it was really uplifting to listen to. It's
a holiday for me to be able to hear your creations, you are both wonderful
artists, you can create brilliantly together."
- Balázs Major (HUNGARY)
"I am listening to The Second Realm as I am writing this, and it sounds very nice, clear and pristine. I love it! Great playing on your new album Kevin, thanks again for sharing, I always enjoy your music immensely!"
- Dieter Kaudel
K&K Pickups
(US/GERMANY)