Aaron Freed · Selected Works, 2023-2024

Tracklist & Credits

(download or stream this album here)

  1. Fīnis fīnālis (ver. 3)
  2. Ambiēns aquātica
  3. Fīliī Bombayānī
  4. Καταιβᾰτή ἕλῐξ (ft. Chris Christodoulou)
  5. Disco Apocalypse in 5/4 (co-starring the delicious talents of Logic Pro)
  6. Cauda toxica
  7. Lavā, ēlue, repete
  8. Īra temporis
  9. Lurkers in the Deep
  10. Tempestās īrae
  11. Landing (including A Glacier Eventually Farts and The Rain Formerly Known as Purple)
  12. Pfhor Trilogy
  13. Fat Man (including Ecce homō corpulentus)
  14. Flippant
  15. Fīnis fīnālis (isolated arps)

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 over 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.

Streaming/Download Links

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.

Sources

I’ve gathered this material from five sources (note that several of these songs appear on two of them):

  1. the soundtrack for the Marathon mod Eternal X 1.3
  2. the soundtrack for the Marathon mod Tempus Irae Redux (Redux info coming soon™)
  3. a soundtrack proposal (beware spoilers) for the game Endless Sky (album)
  4. my album Compositions 2023-2024 (commentary)
  5. my album Mūsica ex tempore malōrum (Latin: Music from the Time of the Disaster) (commentary)

Credits

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:

  1. Aaron Freed – “Fīnis fīnālis (ver. 3)” (7:00) [DR13]

    Latin: “The Final Frontier”

    Composer: Aaron Freed

    Written for: Endless Sky

    Appears on:

    • Mūsica ex tempore malōrum
    • Endless Sky OST (probably, in some form)

    Dedicated to: Vangelis, whose soundtrack for Blade Runner (1982-06-25) has been an immense inspiration

    1. «Πτῆσις ἐν διάστημᾰτῐ» (0:00-2:40) [DR10]
      Ancient Greek: “Spaceflight”
      Romanized: “Ptīsis en diástēmătĭ”
    2. «Ναυτῐκόν πολῑτείᾱς» (2:40-4:34) [DR13]
      Ancient Greek: “Republic Navy”
      Romanized: “Nautĭkón polīteíās”
    3. «Κρίσιμη μᾰ́χη» (4:34-7:00) [DR12]
      Ancient Greek: “Decisive Battle”
      Romanized: “Krísimi mắkhē”

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  2. Aaron Freed – “Ambiēns aquātica” (6:40) [DR14]

    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, “Aquatic Ambiance” (Donkey Kong Country, 1994-11-18)

    Written for (and used on): Tempus Irae Redux, “Gauntlet”

    Appears on:

    • Compositions 2023-2024
    • Tempus Irae Redux OST

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  3. Aaron Freed – “Fīliī Bombayānī” (7:20) [DR11]

    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:

    • Mūsica ex tempore malōrum
    • Tempus Irae Redux OST

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  4. Chris Christodoulou & Aaron Freed – «Καταιβᾰτή ἕλῐξ» (19:37) [DR15]

    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”
    Romanized: “Thúrai paralíriseōs”

    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”)
    Romanized: “Hē megálē sigḗ”

    Appears on:

    • Compositions 2023-2024 (in its original form)
    • Tempus Irae Redux OST (in modified form)
    1. Ὁ ζῐ́γγος αὔξεται μέγᾰς (0:00-5:41) [DR14]

      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

    2. Ὀνειροπολεῖς βῐαίᾱν αὔξησῐν (5:41-10:36) [DR13]

      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:

      • Bass, guitar, drums, synthesizer solo, vocals: Chris Christodoulou
      • Bağlama, bongos: Petros Anagnostoupoulos
      • Oboe, English horn: Christos Tsogias-Razakov
      • Violin, vocals: Kalliopi Mitropoulou
    3. Μίᾰ ᾰ̓γᾰ́πη ἀνώτατη (10:36-15:31) [DR15]

      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”
    4. Ἡμέρᾱ ὀργῆς (15:31-19:37) [DR15]

      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.

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  5. Aaron Freed – “Disco Apocalypse in 5/4 (co-starring the delicious talents of Logic Pro)” (12:27) [DR15]

    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

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  6. Aaron Freed – “Cauda toxica” (10:20) [DR15]

    Latin: “Toxic Tail”

    Composer: Aaron Freed

    Briefly quotes:
    • 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)

    Also inspired by:
    • 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:

    • Compositions 2023-2024 (as a standalone song)
    • Tempus Irae Redux OST (in a medley)

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  7. Aaron Freed – “Lavā, ēlue, repete” (12:40) [DR14]
    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:

    • Mūsica ex tempore malōrum
    • Tempus Irae Redux OST

    In memoriam Dr Devon Belcher (1967-2020) - requiēscat in pāce

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  8. Aaron Freed – “Īra temporis” (8:19) [DR16]
    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:

    • Compositions 2023-2024 (in its original form)
    • Tempus Irae Redux OST (in modified form)
    1. Aaron Freed – “Ex tempore, ex locō” (0:00-4:00) [DR16]
      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”)

    2. Aaron Freed – “Nōn omnia in suā locō corrēctō erant” (4:00-8:19) [DR16]
      Latin: “Not Everything Was in Its Right Place”

      Written for (and used on): Tempus Irae Redux, “Mt. Vesuvius 2 - Electric Boogaloo”

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  9. Aaron Freed – “Lurkers in the Deep” (6:24) [DR12]

    Composer: Aaron Freed

    Additional mixing: hypersleep

    Written for (and used on): Tempus Irae Redux, “Big Man with a Gun”

    Appears on:

    • Mūsica ex tempore malōrum
    • Tempus Irae Redux OST

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  10. Aaron Freed – “Tempestās īrae” (5:12) [DR15]

    Composer: Aaron Freed

    Written for (but not used on): Tempus Irae Redux, “Big Man with a Gun”

    Appears on: Compositions 2023-2024

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  11. Dr Craig Hardgrove, wowbobwow, Aaron Freed, & Chris Christodoulou – “Landing (including A Glacier Eventually Farts and The Rain Formerly Known as Purple)” (10:16) [DR12]

    Used in: Eternal X 1.3, “Deja Vu All Over Again”

    1. Dr Craig Hardgrove – “Landing” (0:00-2:40) [DR10]

      Musical source: Alex Seropian, “Landing” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)

      Additional composition: Dr Craig Hardgrove

      Remastered by Aaron Freed (2024-01-23)

    2. wowbobwow, Aaron Freed, & Chris Christodoulou – “Landing (including A Glacier Eventually Farts and The Rain Formerly Known as Purple)” (2:40-10:16) [DR13]

      Musical sources:

      • Alex Seropian, “Landing” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
      • Chris Christodoulou, “A Glacier Eventually Farts (and Don’t You Listen to the Song of Life)” & “The Rain Formerly Known as Purple” (Risk of Rain 2, 2020-08-11)

      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)

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  12. Aaron Freed – “Pfhor Trilogy” (12:46) [DR14]

    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”

    1. Aaron Freed – “New Pacific” (0:00-3:34) [DR13]
    2. Aaron Freed – “New Pacific (reprise)” (3:34-8:13) [DR14]
      Additional musical source: Alex Seropian, “New Pacific” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
    3. Aaron Freed – “Rapture” (8:13-12:46) [DR14]
      Additional musical source: Alex Seropian, “New Pacific (reprise)” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)

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  13. Talashar, wowbobwow, Dr Craig Hardgrove, Trey J. Anderson, & Aaron Freed – “Fat Man (including Ecce homō corpulentus)” (14:37) [DR14]

    Musical source: Alex Seropian, “Fat Man” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)

    Used in: Eternal X 1.3, “Run, Coward!”

    1. Talashar & Aaron Freed – “Fat Man” (0:00-2:38) [DR14]

      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)

    2. wowbobwow & Aaron Freed – “Fat Man” (2:38-7:26) [DR14]

      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)

    3. Dr Craig Hardgrove – “Fat Man” (7:26-8:56) [DR12]

      Remastered by Aaron Freed (2024-01-23)

    4. Trey J. Anderson & Aaron Freed – “Ecce homō corpulentus” (8:56-11:00) [DR11]

      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”

    5. Aaron Freed & Trey J. Anderson – “Fat Man” (11:00-14:37) [DR14]

      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)

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  14. Talashar, Aaron Freed, & wowbobwow – “Flippant” (12:55) [DR14]

    Musical source: Alex Seropian, “Flippant” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)

    Used in: Eternal X 1.3, “Once More Unto the Breach…”

    1. Talashar & Aaron Freed – “Flippant” (0:00-3:12) [DR14]

      Additional composition: Austin Anderson & Aaron Freed

      Additional musical sources: Alex Seropian, “Swirls” & “Flowers in Heaven” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
    2. Aaron Freed – “Flippant (psychedelic)” (3:12-6:16) [DR15]

      Additional composition: Aaron Freed

      Additional musical sources: Alex Seropian, “Chomber”, “Freedom”, “Rushing”, “Swirls”, & “Fat Man” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
    3. wowbobwow & Aaron Freed – “Flippant (disco)” (6:16-10:28) [DR12]

      Additional composition: wowbobwow & Aaron Freed

      Additional musical sources: Alex Seropian, “Fat Man” & “What About Bob?” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)
    4. wowbobwow & Aaron Freed – “Flippant (ambient)” (10:28-12:55) [DR15]

      Additional composition: wowbobwow

      Additional musical sources: Alex Seropian, “Flowers in Heaven” (Marathon, 1994-12-21)

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  15. Aaron Freed – “Fīnis fīnālis (isolated arps)” (6:00) [DR11]

    Latin: “The Final Frontier”

    Composer: Aaron Freed

    Written for: Endless Sky

    Appears on:

    • Mūsica ex tempore malōrum
    • Endless Sky OST (probably, in some form)

    Dedicated to: Vangelis, whose soundtrack for Blade Runner (1982-06-25) has been an immense inspiration

    1. «Πτῆσις ἐν διάστημᾰτῐ» (0:00-1:43) [DR10]
      Ancient Greek: “Spaceflight”
      Romanized: “Ptīsis en diástēmătĭ”
    2. «Ναυτῐκόν πολῑτείᾱς» (1:43-3:37) [DR10]
      Ancient Greek: “Republic Navy”
      Romanized: “Nautĭkón polīteíās”
    3. «Κρίσιμη μᾰ́χη» (3:37-6:00) [DR11]
      Ancient Greek: “Decisive Battle”
      Romanized: “Krísimi mắkhē”

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Commentary forthcoming