Ahoy ChipWINners and a happy February Friday to one and all! I know I want to get psyched up for MAGFest, and this latest release by Sean ‘Awesome Force’ Baker is helping me do just that. Not with fist pumping melodies and foot stomping beats as one might anticipate, but with an ethereal sound with a broad emotional range that flows smoothly across the entire EP. With mastering done by Tri Angles, and contributions from Jason Doss and Auxcide to broaden the pallet, Sean’s talented compositions paint a complex picture. Take the jump past the fold to take a swim through the sound with me.

Codex EP by Awesome Force

‘Creator [feat. Jason Doss]’ primes expectations with a spacey, mysterious opening few seconds that blend equal parts ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ and what I loved about ‘Corset Lore‘s instrumental design on her eponymous album. The emergence of the lead melody from it conjures an image of the white flower of Creation blossoming from an endless empty expanse. Mr. Doss’ sublime guitar work intesifies the image, injecting a forlorn yet driven sensation into the track. Lonely, but refusing to give up, Creation digs in to create a foothold where there is none to be found.

When the vocals enter, also graciously provided by Mr. Doss, they complete the atmosphere of the track. They add a visceral layer of tension between themselves and the focused sensation they float on top of. One can almost feel Chaos lashing out at the Creation that has sprung up unbidden. With patient, focused effort, Creation establishes itself, finding a way to hold Chaos at bay. A warm noise wave, pulsing like a heartbeat, brings both closure to the track and a sense that life has taken root.

Codex EP by Awesome Force

‘Teacher‘ begins with a well-done mixture of tension and calm, with tight squares juxtaposed with soothing ethereal voices. Given the title, it reminded me of the butterflies of the first day of class. As the beat and piano burst into the mix, the underlying flow gives the track an almost montage feel. Students undergo their training at the hands of the origin of Creation, preparing themselves for the tests to calm. This is brought home as the track hits its midpoint, and almost all of the overtones fall away, paving the way for a moment of truth. The tension and pace pick back up, and for a brief period threaten to overwhelm the track. It doesn’t last, the lessons of the Teacher have taken hold, the airy tones come out on top. Ominously, however, the tension never truly fades away.

Codex EP by Awesome Force

With a sneaking mysteriousness and some lines from ‘Master and Commander’, ‘Betrayer‘ wastes no time in dressing its stage with anticipation. As thick drums begin to kick, and the tempo begins to quicken, it is clearly apparent that the world is about to shift. Someone trusted has breached an inner sanctum, perhaps tempted with promises of power and threatens to undo centuries of work. A new wave of sound rushes across the landscape, chaotic as the underlying squares take on a mournful flavor. It’s as if Chaos has found freedom into Creation and is running rampant across it.

In the brief quiet near the end, one can see the survivors of the destruction that have managed to stake a foothold in what world there is left to inhabit. As the music comes back to life, the forlorn sense is replaced with one of determination. A stand to hold their ground, and as another track comes to a tight close, there is a clear sense that the survivors intend to undo the destruction with one last desperate gambit.

Codex EP by Awesome Force

‘Seeker‘ is in many ways, an almost mirrored counter point to ‘Betrayer‘. It conveys the same sense of boldness; of a single individual daring to undertake a nearly impossible mission. However, it accomplishes this with a hearty seasoning of hope. With its flowing, ceaselessly underlying current, the sound portrays an image of an individual willingly diving into the armies of Chaos and dancing through unscathed. Rather than skulking and acting from the shadows, this is the theme of an individual facing the forces of destruction head on.

When the track takes an extended moment of quiet, it produces an emotional mix. Perhaps tempted by the same promises of power that led to the initial destruction, the actor of the track is weighing their options. Regardless, the track picks back up the tempo, and undeterred, makes its way to the decisive climax. With a swift slice of sound, the source of the original destruction is righted and the composition seamlessly flows into ‘Believer‘.

Codex EP by Awesome Force

‘Believer [feat. Auxcide]’ opens on a particularly heartening set of bleeps and bloops, conveying a message of rejuvenation and rebooting. With a fast pace and rising tones, the music wastes no time rebuilding from what has transpired earlier in the track. Auxcide has done an amazing job constructing synths that simultaneously feel filled with hope but acknowledge that there is hard work to strain against as the pacing of the track does not abate. The damage done is deep, and there is a great deal of work to do to not only rebuild the world, but to dispel the fear of losing it all again.

Only as the track reaches the half-way point is a moment taken to reflect on what has transpired and what is to come. As the music picks back up, more warmth and ambition are injected into the theme. Towers are being raised, the world is being rebuilt, and everyone believes it can be done. As the track comes to a close on its fast paced bouncing ball blip, all the actors are satisfied with what they’ve done, and the album draws to a fulfilled end.

What more is there to say? Awesome Force has really brought the A-game here, and is certainly worthy of a little love. Hit up his Bandcamp, take a listen for yourself, and soak up that auditory beauty for yourself.

Spread the love and enjoy some chip!

–VF

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Soundcloud

Codex EP by Awesome Force

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