Dear listeners and readers of Soundville,

I recently stumbled upon something truly magical, almost as if it came from another world. The album ‘Pastorale’ by East of West immediately struck me, so I’ll get straight to the point. From the very first track I felt something deeply soulful and profound in their instrumental music, something almost beyond comprehension. I want as many people as possible to discover this unique album ‘Pastorale’ as soon as possible. As with any remarkable record, there are fascinating stories behind its creation.

Let me introduce East of West, an instrumental trio from Queensland and ARIA Award nominees, who have joined forces with Sydney-based contemporary classical composer Romano Crivici. The result is the supremely atmospheric ‘Pastorale’, a record that fuses genres, rhythms, and harmonies in a way that feels both fresh and timeless. East of West, Philip Griffin on oud, Malindi Morris on percussion, and Goran Gajić on double bass, have been playing together for seven years and their intuitive interplay is unmistakable, now joined by Romano Crivici’s truly expressive piano. The album is full of dynamic exchanges, wild unison runs, and those moments when everything else disappears and you find yourself lost in the sonic space that only East of West can create.

What really captivated me was the story behind the making of ‘Pastorale’. It all began with an old spinet piano that percussionist Malindi Morris practically rescued from a stifling hot summer. The instrument had been sitting under a tarp in its former owner’s backyard. After discussions about its value, the painstaking process of moving it in a family car, and finally tuning it, Gajić composed the album’s first piano melodies on it, melodies that would later be performed by the brilliant Romano Crivici. I can almost picture this story unfolding in my mind. In a way, the album truly began at that moment. Every desire and every step taken to create the music for ‘Pastorale’ is an essential part of its story. The album ‘Pastorale’ features six stunning instrumental tracks that reflect Balkan influences as well as the unique musical vision of East of West. Every listener will find both improvisations and carefully crafted melodies in this album. This is music that fills the heart with inspiration and love. The feeling is enhanced by the fact that the album was recorded live in Brisbane by the extraordinary Melbourne-based sound engineer Siiri Metsar. This gives ‘Pastorale’ a special brilliance and clarity, like dew on the petals of a lush rose shimmering with the first rays of the sun. I recommend that you close your eyes right now and simply surrender to the music of ‘Pastorale’ and you will feel yourself approaching something lofty, previously unattainable and beautiful.

The album opens with the composition ‘Where is Your Accent From’. Its duration is 9 minutes and 9 seconds. During this time the melody transforms and evolves, the rhythm is complex yet measured. I feel that this melody works on the subconscious, evoking images. It is impossible to predict how it will unfold next, and this creates a sense of intrigue and anticipation, making want to listen closely to every bar and draw inspiration from it. Each instrument is given space to reveal every sound and every emotion. This atmosphere then flows smoothly into the gentle composition ‘Quiet Days in West End’, which caresses the ear with the interplay of strings and keys, like a breeze, allowing one to simply dissolve in the sound. I love how fresh and inspired ‘Quiet Days in West End’ sounds. Yes, there is a familiar rhythm and motifs provide a sense of grounding, while the overall sound and textures evoke an entirely different world. I could easily imagine this track as the soundtrack to one of the happiest evenings of life, so sensuous is this composition.

Next comes the track ‘Small Eyes’, which has an interesting story behind it. It was inspired by an Australian snake and recorded back in 2015, long before the group was formed. ‘Small Eyes’ is built on descending scales, which convey movement, energy, and the elusiveness characteristic of a snake. The interplay of keys and double bass reminds me of scales that shimmer and tightly cover the body. This is quite interesting because there is absolutely no tension or fear in the music. On the contrary, this track celebrates and conveys the beauty and danger of nature, where such different states exist in harmony. In ‘Takt’ the vibrant rhythm brings energy and style, capturing with every dynamic moment and filling with faster motifs. But already in the next track ‘At the End of the Tunnel’ the feeling of meditation and relaxation returns. It has a completely unique sound, a new energy that soothes and even encourages deeper breathing. I can admit that this is my favorite track on the whole album. When I listened to it, I got goosebumps from the depth and intimacy of this composition.

‘Pastorale’ closes the album with a truly remarkable piece. The low keys shimmer with soft percussion, oud, and double bass, revealing new emotions in an almost Eastern style. This leaves a desire to hear more from East of West, to discover what else lies in their hearts. Because ‘Pastorale’ is a very deep album. I would even say that each track is a unique story that the listener can write themselves. The beauty of ‘Pastorale’ is that you can listen to it again and again, and each time find something completely new, discover new emotions and stories. And that is amazing. This was a fantastic album that everyone should hear. Be sure to add your favorite tracks to your playlists and follow East of West so you don’t miss even more wonderful music. It was truly great. I loved it!

Hey, East of West! Thank you for creating such wonderful music that truly has no equal. Listening to your album ‘Pastorale’, I felt genuinely inspired. It was as if I completely disconnected from reality, and my mind was filled with an incredible flow of thoughts. Every track radiated deep love and tranquility. Even with the rather complex rhythmic structures and compositions, I believe this is exactly the kind of music that should be played during moments of meditation, reflection on nature, the universe, and the meaning of life. There is something absolutely cosmic and indescribable in your sound, something that can only be understood on a soul level. I will definitely share your album with everyone I know. Let them experience this incredible music too. It was amazing. I love it. I am your fan!

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