New Release - Cinematic Soundscapes 3.1: Ancient Directive

As 2023 comes to a close, I’m taking one more detour before returning to my usual EDM stuff in January - Cinematic Soundscapes. I’m excited to return to this style and I’m very happy with how this EP turned out. I hope you like it too!

It’s been a long time since I’ve released a cinematic project (8 years and 3 days, to be exact) and while I know most Approaching Nirvana listeners are here for EDM, I’ve always wanted to write more. Earlier this year I had a commission opportunity to write some cinematic/orchestral music so I accepted the commission in late Spring and wrote 3 songs - Expedition’s Odyssey, Heat Death, and Through the Black Hole. I had no real intention to officially release these, but as the year went on I found myself thinking about these projects more. The last 2 years have also been a test for my content moving forward: a focus on 3-5 song EPs instead of larger albums. This gives me the ability to still have cohesive “album-like” experiences while appeasing the Spotify and algorithm overlords. And combined with the amazing support here on Patreon the time felt right to return to Cinematic Soundscapes.

I’m calling this release Cinematic Soundscapes 3.1 - I don’t have any plans for future cinematic/orchestral music, but I want to leave the option open to either continue this story or to write more EPs that tell smaller stories like this one.

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EP Mix and Artwork downloads are attached and here are download links for the EP:
MP3 Version
Wave Version

This EP is also available on Bandcamp.

As always - thank you so much for supporting me. I would not be able to continue to make music or work on projects like these without your help on Patreon. I hope that this is a nice surprise for the holidays and I hope that you enjoy the EP. This felt like a great way to end the year during the holiday season before returning to the style that you know me for best.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Whatever you celebrate, I hope you find the time to relax and spend time together with those that you love. I’ll see you on stream to celebrate the release!

- Andrew

About the songs

1. Expedition’s Odyssey

As a relatively new recruit your first big mission is to investigate a distress signal in another system. You first launch into orbit and then prep for the initial jump into another system. The nerves, adrenaline, and spectacle are overwhelming as the journey begins. You arrive in a new system and the engines wind down as you gain your bearings.

2. Heat Death

Ships warp in all around you and you buckle down for an enemy assault. The engines roar as missiles and lasers fly by. You dodge incoming fire and take down a few of the enemey ships. Eventually things quiet and you move into an asteroid field to give you cover, rest, and repair. Deciding it’s too dangerous to stay in the asteroid field, dodge through the rest of it and come out the other side - right into the captain ship of the fleet and the battle begins again. The battle comes to a climax as you power up your largest weapon, fly through their shield, and fire it at the deck. Your ship exits their shield, the shot hits and you see a chaing reaction of explosions down the vessel. All is quiet.

3. Through the Black Hole

Repairs begin and you check the starmap for the signal. It looks like the signal has moved and you’re in the wrong system. You’ll have to jump again but it’ll be some time before repairs have finished. Once ready, you prep for another jump. Everyone straps in as the drives hum into action. Space and time move around you and you take everything in. Suddenly, you’re there but there’s nothing in view. Confused, you check the starmap and nothing comes up. You initiate a scan and something pings on the very edge. You can’t jump here so you steer the ship in the direction of the signal and engage the drives. After some time, a derelict space station appears in the distance. The engines slow and you stop with it in view.

4. Derelict Signal

You can see the distress beacon flashing on the station. You and 2 crew members suit up to investigate. After docking, you enter and hear broken machines in the distance. As you go further inside you find the atmosphere shattered, debris everywhere, and evidence of a massive explosion. You find a computer still somewhat intact with records of distress calls and the explosion within. The coordinates indicate the station was in the original system you transported to, but has somehow been moved here. You move further within towards the explosion’s center at the research labs. You discover a mysterious artifact and your scanner and suit begin to malfunction. You’re drawn in with a voice that drowns out the shouts of your crew. Things go black for a moment and vision returns you find your hand on the artifact. You feel a surge of power that overwhelms you and then everything is black. You awake in your ship beside your crew with a newfound understanding and a destination in mind. You select the destination on the starmap and jump into the unknown.

5. From the Void

As you warp into an unknown system with unfamiliar planets, you feel a strong pull towards the planet closest to the ship. Deciding to explore it, you descend and notice a peculiar structure built into a mountain reminiscent of the artifact you encountered on station. You land near it, gear up, and enter the structure. It’s a massive room with 12 statues arranged in a circle. The room begins to rotate and twist, captivating you with ancient symbols and a mysterious glow. In that momnet, you feel a profound connection to the structure and the planet. Your mind is flooded with visions and knowledge, revealing the existence of an ancient evil civlization threatening your home system. This structure is a temple and it is the last remnants of a people who fought and sealed this evil long ago. But as your mind fills with thoughts of battles past, you discover that the seals are weakened. You leave this place driven by fear and determination and you set out to warn your home world and the surrounding systems to prepare for the fight.