The first international release in nine years from Serbian composer-bandleader-saxophonist Boris Kovac. His music eschews genre and plays on clichd expectations with its overblown drama and melancholy. As we kneel to worship at Boris' 'Eastern Moon Rising', the ultimate Balkan entertainer blazes on high once again. <p>'Eastern Moon Rising' opens with a steamy sustained chord across the ensemble before launching into strutting first track "Fly By...'. Other tracks include the striking "My Eastern Heart' and "On An Eastern Path", which take direct inspiration from Boris' Serbian roots, drawing on the wellspring of folk music from his homeland.</p> <p>"Simple, Simple...Life" is a carefree lilting tune that features distant yodels and shouts that decorate the closing sequence. "Sini Vals" (or 'Grey Waltz') opens with a sombre instrumental passage that sounds almost funeral-istic, before switching first into a peppy jazz waltz that first calls to mind French chanson and then snowballs into a brilliantly bizarre prog-rock tango feel. "Caravan" pays homage to Middle Eastern tradition with ululating string textures, a softly hummed voice part and woody clarinet lines.</p>
