Ocean Moon & Silver Ley / Prismatic Fields / Open Universe

Open Universe is a new offshoot of the respected library music house, Sonoton. This new enterprise is being curated by Jon Tye, ex of ambient techno pioneers MLO*, one half of Seahawks, and currently recording and performing solo as Ocean Moon. The imprint’s inaugural release finds Tye adopting this moniker and collaborating with Bristol-based musician Bethany Ley, herself assuming the alias Silver Ley. The sonic synergy showcased is so seamless that individual artistic contributions, who did what, remain unclear, but the vocals are definitely Ley’s. On creations such as “Lotus Garden”, or “Glowing Umber”, they bring songs and a sophisticated Dip In The Pool-esque pop. On others, her wordless, percussive chants and sighs, serve as soothing, serene lullabies. My guess is that Ley is also responsible for the zither strings that give the majority of the album a further, strong, Japanese, Zen garden atmosphere. Tye’s modular machines add low oscillations, tiny, glitched twists and…