Ocean Moon - Ways To The Deep Meadow

MLO名義でも作品をリリースしていたLo Recordings主宰者Jon Tyeの新プロジェクト！深い瞑想的な世界観が広がるアンビエント作品！

Lo Recordings主宰Jon Tyeの新プロジェクトOcean Moonによるアンビエント作品。詩人Angus Macliseの詩『Universal Solar Calendar』からインスピレーションを得たタイトルが示す通り、深い瞑想的な世界観が広がる。

A面はAIに関する哲学的探究から生まれた楽曲群。Frank J. TipplerやJames Lovelockの著作に触発され、仏教的な視点も取り入れながら制作された。京都・高台寺の仏教ロボットの存在も創作の源泉となっている。

B面にはJanine Rookの展覧会『Made In Dreams』とVix Hill Ryderの映画『Wild Edges』のために作曲された2つの長尺作品を収録。Holly HerndonのAIアプリを使用したテキスト処理など、実験的なアプローチも特徴的だ。

90年代にMLOとして活動していたJon Tyeのルーツを感じさせつつ、現代的なアンビエント・エレクトロニカの可能性を探る作品。リスナーに優しい光の軌跡のような音楽体験を約束する1枚。

A1. Ways To The Deep Meadow
A2. Souls Fall Away
A3. Day Of The Voyage
A4. Plains Of Paradise
A5. Angel Falls
B1. Made In Dreams
B2. An Ending Full Of Light

Ocean Moon - alias of producer Jon Tye (MLO).

In addition to running the long-standing label Lo Recordings, Tye has recorded under various names and been involved in numerous projects over the past three decades. Keen fans of the label may also notice that this isn't Tye's first collaboration with MFM; his work during the 1990's as part of UK ambient group MLO captured our attention years ago, leading to the release of their retrospective album 'Oumuamua' in 2021.

Releasing archival work alongside new material from an artist has been a fundamental aspect of Music From Memory's identity since we began the label, and is something that continues to bring us immense joy. With Jon continuing to produce work under a wide range of names to this day, the short step to releasing this new work was organic and natural. Working under the name Ocean Moon Jon carries echoes of his work with MLO into the modern day, weaving an ambient electronic music that radiates gentle positivity.

The title 'Ways To The Deep Meadow' is inspired by the poem 'Universal Solar Calendar' written by poet, mystic, shaman, and visionary Angus Maclise. Maclise began as the percussionist in an early iteration of La Monte Young's Theatre Of Eternal Music and later played with the Velvet Underground before moving to Nepal, where he wrote and published an impressive collection of poetry and music.

Side one of the album was created at a time when Tye had been exploring ideas around artificial intelligence, delving into books such as 'The Physics Of Immortality' by Frank J. Tippler, 'Novacene' by James Lovelock, and '12 Bytes' by Jeanette Winterson, seeking an alternative to the prevalent, negative views of AI. He was also inspired by the Buddhist perspective of AI as an integral part of consciousness evolution, as evidenced by the creation of a Buddhist robot that preaches in the Kodaiji Temple in Kyoto.

Side two consists of two long-form pieces, one composed for Janine Rook's 'Made In Dreams' exhibition and the other for Vix Hill Ryder's 'Wild Edges' film. For 'Made In Dreams', text from the exhibition catalogue was processed via the Holly Herndon Holly + app to create an environment that is simultaneously otherworldly and warm.

As with much of Jon's work, this music seeks to nurture an optimistic outlook in the listener, something he achieves here with subtlety and a truly delicate touch. The immersive ambient music of 'Ways To The Deep Meadow' reaches out to the listener like gentle trails of light, offering it's spells,invocations and enchantments to all who choose to listen.

'Ways To The Deep Meadow' will be released on 31st January 2025 on LP as well as digitally. Sleeve art and design by Michael Willis.