Kevin Kastning :: Codex I

Codex I :: Reviews & Quotes

"I listened to Codex I and II carefully. I hear great developments from your last solo period. Almost immaculate technique. This series is your most monumental work, not only for you but also for the guitar world."

- Sandor Szabo (HUNGARY)

"I like the recordings of Codex I and II. First of all, I have to say that I heard a completely new Kevin, the instruments sound like I hear a big orchestra, I discovered fantastic colors and drama. The compositions are brilliant! I would like to congratulate you!"

- Balazs Major (HUNGARY)

KEVIN KASTNING TO RELEASE TWO NEW ALBUMS

"Kevin Kastning, master of the multi string guitar, is about to release two new albums: "Codex I" and "Codex II".

Both albums feature Kevin on 30-string Contra-baritone guitar, 30-string Double Contraguitar, 26-string Double Sub-contraguitar, 24-string Double Sub-contraguitar, and 6-string guitar.

Kevin adds:

The compositions in the Codex series are some rather complex compositions involving new guitaristic techniques. Each piece on Codex I and Codex II was recorded live in the studio as one performance in a single take. There are no overdubs or edits.

My technique is such that I'm playing my doubleneck instruments with one hand on each neck. This facilitates simultaneous multiple lines and harmonic structures that are not otherwise possible. The recording setup on these instruments is very much in stereo. The doubleneck instruments are recorded such that the left neck is located in the left stereo channel, and the right neck is located in the right stereo channel. Listening with headphones provides a soundstage revealing which part is performed on which neck. Hearing the separate parts, the lines, the harmonic structures, and where they're originating, may provide clarity, and aid in the understanding of the compositions.

The result is astonishing.
Beautiful timbres and layered soundscapes, exuding a sense of wonderment and peace of mind.
"Codex I" and "Codex II" are out on January 27."

- United Mutations
January 2026

Kevin Kastning — Codex I
(Greydisc GDR3600, 2026, CD / DL)

Kevin Kastning — Codex II
(Greydisc GDR3601,, 2026, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2026-02-27

"Those who have been following Kevin Kastning for any period of time will know that most of his recordings are collaborative efforts featuring other performers, sometimes on guitars but as often on woodwinds, bass, trumpet, piano, percussion, and more. For the two releases at hand — which could have been a single release save for the capacity of the compact disc medium — he goes it alone for a series of tracks performed live in the studio without overdubs playing a number of his low-register double-necked custom made guitars: 24-string Double Sub-contraguitar, 26-string Double Sub-contraguitar, 30-string Double Contraguitar, and the 30-string Contra-baritone guitar, along with a regular six-string guitar. For these recordings he is playing the two necks of whatever guitar he is playing simultaneously, one hand on each of the necks, offering multiple lines and harmonic structures that would not be possible otherwise. The recordings are such that such that the left neck of each instrument is heard in the left channel and the right neck in the right channel, thus providing a unique stereo image best experienced on a set of quality headphones, providing further clarity as to how these compositions are constructed. Without them, or a quality speaker system with adequate separation, the result may not always have the appropriate clarity to provide a good understanding of what’s being played, especially when both necks of the guitar are dwelling in the lowest registers. What’s not entirely clear is what separates the material on Codex I from that on Codex II — there are seven tracks on the former and six on the latter, the first five-or-so pieces on Codex I are all in the very lowest registers, then the guitar is changed out for another that features more high end; whether that’s the instrument itself or the way it’s being played, I cannot determine, and really it’s unimportant in the grander scheme, as the entirety of the set (one disc after the other) is fascinating enough to hold the listener spellbound from beginning to end."

- Exposé Magazine (US)
February 2026

"Codex I and Codex II are the new Greydisc Records albums from Kevin Kastning. These albums introduce the new Codex solo series, which will extend over the next few years. These are Kevin’s 7th and 8th solo albums; his first since 2018’s 30/36.

Kevin’s unique instrumentation provides a singular palette for these 13 new compositions for multi-string contraguitars. Kevin’s compositional and harmonic concepts have evolved in the years since his last solo outing, which can be heard in each of these modern compositions.

Codex I and Codex II were recorded during the summer of 2025, and are now being released as albums for the first time.

Codex I and Codex II features Kevin Kastning on 30-string Contra-baritone guitar, 30-string Double Contraguitar, 26-string Double Sub-contraguitar, 24-string Double Sub-contraguitar, 6-string guitar."

- Progressive Rock Central
March 2026

"Hi Kevin,
Got a chance to listen through all 3 cds you sent, wow, wonderful work!
Your codex 1 and 2 are breathtaking examples of your technique and style, and it was also nice to hear a standard 6 string on the codex 2. Was the codex 1 mostly done with one hand per neck? Both of them are outstanding work my friend.

I also re-listened through In Visible Ascent with Phil Grenadier. Being a big fan of Miles Davis, it is only natural for me to be drawn to this album. It is in my opinion one of your best collaborations. How the 2 of you respond to one another is heartwarming and also very unique, very personal and instantly recognizable as Kevin Kastning work.
This makes you so special, you can instantly recognize that it is you playing, which is the most important detail for any serious artist!
This album is definitely one of my all time favorites!

Very few musicians have this kind of instantly recognizable sound that you have developed.

Thank you and my very best regards,"
Dieter Kaudel
K&K Sound

Kevin Kastning - 2026 - "Codex I"

(44:44; Greydisc)

(5 out of 6 stars)

"I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have become aware of Kevin Kastning some years ago and to have reviewed a great many of his albums since then. However, he normally works with other musicians such as Mark Wingfield or Sandor Szabo (who produced both this and ‘Codex II’), and prior to this I had only heard one of his solo albums, and here he is now presenting us with two at the same time. For those who have not heard of Kevin, he is a musician who discovered that normal instruments were not capable of allowing him to play what he could hear in his head so he has invented many different multi-stringed instruments over the years, and on this he provides 30-string Contra-baritone guitar, 30-string Double Contraguitar, 26-string Double Sub-contraguitar, 24-string Double Sub-contraguitar and a normal 6-string guitar. He is playing these in an unusual manner, with one hand on each neck, which means that he is using these more as a pianist than a guitarist, creating simultaneous multiple lines and harmonic structures that are not otherwise possible. The album has been recorded so the left neck is located in the left stereo channel, and the right neck is located in the right stereo channel, and while I have personally always played Kevin’s albums on headphones as sonically that makes the most sense, this time around it is essential. He is creating a tapestry of sound like no other, as he is able to choose notes which would not otherwise be accessible, and this never sounds like a single musician but rather two working in close harmony on different instruments and given he always records “live” without overdubs I have no comprehension on how he managed to achieve such a feat. Kevin and I have had multiple conversations about using the term “live composition” instead of “improvisation” (and is now something I use when reviewing artists such as Markus Reuter), and this complex album really does feel much more like a modern classical piece which has been scored as opposed to being written in real time. The use of space is dynamic and essential, and with just some simple reverb he takes us on a magical journey. There is no doubt in my mind that this is one of my favourite releases of his to date."

- Progressor (Uzbekistan)
April 2026