The abstact expressionist painting on the cover of “Resonance” is fitting. This collection of haunting baritone guitar duets is a thrilling reminder that music is art as well as entertainment.
Kastning, a Massachusetts native, is a pioneer in modern acoustic guitar composition, a world seldom visited by mainstream listeners.
In his latest offering Kastning teams up with Hungarian virtuoso Sándor Szabó to produce thirteen puzzling pieces that may be best described as acoustic soundscapes. The album is unmelodic and occasionally atonal (there isn’t a single track you can hum), so you won’t want it for your daily commute. But the staccato back-and-forth of “Resonance” can be disturbingly peaceful and inspiring for those with enough time to develop an intimate relationship with it. Listen to this disc alone while you’re writing, painting, cooking, or whatever it is you consider your art, and see where it takes you.
Buy it at
CD Baby
Justin Shatwell
Justin Shatwell is a longtime contributor to Yankee Magazine whose work explores the unique history, culture, and art that sets New England apart from the rest of the world. His article, The Memory Keeper (March/April 2011 issue), was named a finalist for profile of the year by the City and Regional Magazine Association.
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