As 2024 drew to a close, I realized I’d written some three and a half hours of music since the start of the year. As a result, even though I’d made a sampler of what I considered my best music near the end of 2023, the thought of making a new one no longer felt self-indulgent. Thus, here are fifteen of my favorite works from the past two years. There are still nearly two and a half hours of music here, but I’ve worked on more than ten hours of music over the same timespan, so that’s a substantial distillation.
This collection is free to listen to or download online, and I’ve made it available in both audio CD image format and individual track format. Nonetheless, please ask before using this material for your own projects – I’ll probably grant most noncommercial uses, but I’d like to know who’s using it and why. (I’m also open to commercial uses if offered fair compensation.) Of course, permission for the songs with substantial writing or cowriting by others («Καταιβᾰτή ἕλῐξ», “Landing…”, “Pfhor Trilogy”, “Fat Man…”, “Flippant”) is not solely mine to grant.
I’ve gathered this material from five sources (note that several of these songs appear on two of them):
I worked on every track here, but not every movement, and I’m only the primary composer of some of it. I sought to sequence this as an end-to-end listening experience rather than to follow anything resembling chronology, though its oldest songs appear towards the end. Here’s some basic information about each song:
Latin: “The Final Frontier”
Composer: Aaron Freed
Written for: Endless Sky
Appears on:
Dedicated to: Vangelis, whose soundtrack for Blade Runner (1982-06-25) has been an immense inspiration
Latin: “Aquatic Ambiance”
Composer: Aaron Freed
Briefly quotes: Unknown author, “Diēs Īrae” (Latin: “Day of Wrath”)
(traditionally attributed to Thomas of Celano)
Inspired by: David Wise
Written for (and used on): Tempus Irae Redux, “Gauntlet”
Appears on:
Latin: “Children of Bombay”
Composer: Aaron Freed
Bass lick shamelessly stolen from:
- It’s a Beautiful Day, “Bombay Calling” (It’s a Beautiful Day, 1969-06)
(Vince Wallace
/ David LaFlamme) - Deep Purple, “Child in Time” (Deep Purple in Rock, 1970-06)
(Ritchie Blackmore
/ Ian Gillan / Roger Glover / Jon Lord / Ian Paice)
Written for (and used on): Tempus Irae Redux, “Towel Boy”
Appears on:
Ancient Greek: “Downward Spiral”
Romanized: “Kataibaté hélix”
Composers: Chris Christodoulou & Aaron Freed
Originally written for: Tempus Irae Redux, “Downward Spiral”
Actually used on:
| α–β: |
Tempus Irae Redux, “Gates of Delirium”, as «Θῠ́ραι παραλήρησεως»
Ancient Greek: “Gates of Delirium” |
| γ–δ: |
Tempus Irae Redux, “Il grande silenzio”, as «Ἡ μεγᾰ́λη σιγή» (medley, after “Cauda toxica”)
Ancient Greek: “Il grande silenzio” (Italian: “The Great Silence”) |
Appears on:
Ancient Greek: “The Whirring Grows Loud”
Romanized: “Ho zíngos aúxetai mégas”
Composition: about 50% Chris & 50% Aaron
Interpolates: “The Raindrop That Fell to the Sky” (Risk of Rain 2, 2019-03-28)
Bass, guitar, drums, synthesizer solo: Chris Christodoulou
Ancient Greek: “You Dream of Violent Growth”
Romanized: “Oneiropoleís biaíān auxísin”
Composition: about 75% Chris & 25% Aaron
Interpolates:
- “They Might as Well Be Dead” (Risk of Rain 2: Survivors of the Void, 2022-03-01)
- “The Raindrop That Fell to the Sky” (Risk of Rain 2, 2019-03-28)
- “Moisture Deficit” (Risk of Rain, 2013-11-08)
- “Once in a Lullaby” (Risk of Rain 2: Survivors of the Void, 2022-03-01)
Performers:
Ancient Greek: “A Love Supreme”
Romanized: “Mía agápē anṓtate”
Primary composer: Aaron
Chord progression: Chris (“They Might as Well Be Dead”)
Briefly quotes: Nine Inch Nails, “The Downward Spiral” (The Downward Spiral, 1994-03-08)(Trent Reznor)
Lyrics: Unknown author, «Τρισάγιον»Byzantine Greek: “Thrice Holy”
Romanized: “Triságion”
Ancient Greek: “Diēs Īrae” (Latin: “Day of Wrath”) Romanized: “Hēmérā orgês”
Primary composer: Aaron
Chord progression: mostly Chris(derived from his stems in movement β, which I layered in somewhat novel ways)
With lyrics & subtle musical quotes from: Unknown author, “Diēs Īrae”(traditionally attributed to Thomas of Celano)
An immense thanks to Chris Christodoulou for not just permitting but encouraging me to make this track, which quickly became one of my favorite pieces of music I’ve ever (co)written.
Further thanks to Johann Sebastian Bach, Brian Eno, Pink Floyd, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Vangelis, Nobuo Uematsu, Tim Follin, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Magma, Quincy Jones, the Beatles, Ravi Shankar, the Doors, and all others that inspired any parts of this track, whether consciously or subconsciously.
Composer: Aaron Freed
Briefly quotes:
- Unknown author, “Diēs Īrae” (Latin: “Day of Wrath”)
(traditionally attributed to Thomas of Celano)
- Genesis, “Supper’s Ready” (Foxtrot, 1972-09-15)
(Tony Banks
/ Phil Collins / Peter Gabriel / Steve Hackett / Mike Rutherford)
Written for (but not used on): Tempus Irae Redux, “La fine di innocenza”
Appears on: Compositions 2023-2024
Latin: “Toxic Tail”
Composer: Aaron Freed
Briefly quotes:Also inspired by:
- The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, “Doctor Who” (Doctor Who, 1963-11-23)
(Ron Grainer
/ Delia Derbyshire) - Britney Spears, “Toxic” (In the Zone, 2003-11-15)
(Cathy Dennis
/ Christian Karlsson / Pontus Winnberg / Henrik Jonback)
- Daft Punk, “Get Lucky” (single, 2013-04-19; Random Access Memories, 2013-05-17)
(Thomas Bangalter
/ Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo / Nile Rodgers / Pharrell Williams) - Berlin, “Take My Breath Away” (Top Gun, 1986-05-15)
(Giorgio Moroder
/ Tom Whitlock) - Genesis, “The Carpet Crawlers” (The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, 1974-11-22)
(Tony Banks
/ Phil Collins / Peter Gabriel / Steve Hackett / Mike Rutherford)
Written for (and used on): Tempus Irae Redux, “Il grande silenzio” (medley, before «Καταιβᾰτή ἕλῐξ» γ & δ)
Appears on:
Latin: “Lather, Rinse, Repeat”
Composer: Aaron Freed
With lyrics & musical quotes from: Unknown author, “Diēs Īrae” (Latin: “Day of Wrath”)(traditionally attributed to Thomas of Celano)
Inspired by:
- Candlemass, “Solitude” & “A Sorcerer’s Pledge” (Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, 1986-06-10)
(Leif Edling)
- Black Sabbath’s entire discography (1969-2016)
- Metallica, “Fade to Black” (Ride the Lightning, 1984-07-27)
(James Hetfield
/ Lars Ulrich / Cliff Burton / Kirk Hammett)
Written for (and used on): Tempus Irae Redux, “Lather, Rinse, Repeat”
Appears on:
In memoriam Dr Devon Belcher (1967-2020) - requiēscat in pāce
Latin: “Wrath of Time”
Composer: Aaron Freed
Briefly quotes:
- Unknown author, “Diēs Īrae” (Latin: “Day of Wrath”)
(traditionally attributed to Thomas of Celano)
- Alex Seropian, “Flowers in Heaven” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
Vaguely inspired by: Radiohead, “Everything in Its Right Place” (Kid A, 2000-10-02)(Colin Greenwood
/ Jonny Greenwood / Ed O’Brien / Phil Selway / Thom Yorke)
Appears on:
Latin: “Out of Time, Out of Place”
Originally written for: Tempus Irae Redux, “Gates of Delirium”
Actually used on: Tempus Irae Redux, “Downward Spiral” (medley, after Rafael Krux’s “Hidden Truth”)
Latin: “Not Everything Was in Its Right Place”
Written for (and used on): Tempus Irae Redux, “Mt. Vesuvius 2 - Electric Boogaloo”
Composer: Aaron Freed
Additional mixing: hypersleep
Written for (and used on): Tempus Irae Redux, “Big Man with a Gun”
Appears on:
Composer: Aaron Freed
Written for (but not used on): Tempus Irae Redux, “Big Man with a Gun”
Appears on: Compositions 2023-2024
Used in: Eternal X 1.3, “Deja Vu All Over Again”
Musical source: Alex Seropian, “Landing” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
Additional composition: Dr Craig Hardgrove
Remastered by Aaron Freed (2024-01-23)
Musical sources:
Additional composition: wowbobwow & Aaron Freed
Briefly quotes:
- Mick Gordon, “The Only Thing They Fear Is You” (Doom Eternal, 2020-03-20)
- Prince, “Purple Rain” (Purple Rain, 1984-06-25)
- Nirvana, “Scentless Apprentice” (In Utero, 1993-09-21),
(Kurt Cobain
/ Dave Grohl / Krist Novoselić)
Musical sources: Alex Seropian, “New Pacific”, “New Pacific (reprise)”, & “Rapture” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
(these do not solely appear within the movements bearing their names)
Additional composition: Aaron Freed
Used in: Eternal X 1.3, “Unity of Opposites”
Additional musical source: Alex Seropian, “New Pacific” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
Additional musical source: Alex Seropian, “New Pacific (reprise)” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
Musical source: Alex Seropian, “Fat Man” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
Used in: Eternal X 1.3, “Run, Coward!”
Additional composition: Austin Anderson & Aaron Freed
Briefly quotes:
- Johann Sebastian Bach, Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (date unknown)
- Rush, “YYZ” (Moving Pictures, 1981-02-12)
(Geddy Lee
/ Neil Peart) - Seatbelts, “Tank!” (Cowboy Bebop, 1998-05-21)
(Yōko Kanno)
Additional composition: wowbobwow & Aaron Freed
Additional musical sources:
- Alex Seropian, “What About Bob?” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
- Aaron Freed, “What About Bob?” (See You Starside, 2023-02-04)
(Alex Seropian
/ Aaron Freed)
Briefly quotes:
- Seatbelts, “Tank!” (Cowboy Bebop, 1998-05-21)
(Yōko Kanno)
Remastered by Aaron Freed (2024-01-23)
Latin: “Behold the Fat Man”
Instrumental backing: Trey J. Anderson
Four-part choral harmony: Aaron Freed
Lyrics: Aaron Freed, apart from a few words affectionately borrowed from “Diēs Īrae”
Additional composition: Aaron Freed & Trey J. Anderson
Briefly quotes:
- Alex Seropian, “Leela” & “Flowers in Heaven” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
- Johann Sebastian Bach, Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (date unknown)
- Rush, “YYZ” (Moving Pictures, 1981-02-12)
(Geddy Lee
/ Neil Peart)
Musical source: Alex Seropian, “Flippant” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
Used in: Eternal X 1.3, “Once More Unto the Breach…”
Additional composition: Austin Anderson & Aaron Freed
Additional musical sources: Alex Seropian, “Swirls” & “Flowers in Heaven” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
Additional composition: Aaron Freed
Additional musical sources: Alex Seropian, “Chomber”, “Freedom”, “Rushing”, “Swirls”, & “Fat Man” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
Additional composition: wowbobwow & Aaron Freed
Additional musical sources: Alex Seropian, “Fat Man” & “What About Bob?” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
Additional composition: wowbobwow
Additional musical sources: Alex Seropian, “Flowers in Heaven” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
Latin: “The Final Frontier”
Composer: Aaron Freed
Written for: Endless Sky
Appears on:
Dedicated to: Vangelis, whose soundtrack for Blade Runner (1982-06-25) has been an immense inspiration
Commentary forthcoming