Maybe others would call it love. Suspended between the lore of the Endless universe and the label-free reality of the acoustic energy itself, the music of Endless Space 2 (and, more generally, the entire Endless universe) sings tales of conflict, existence, and woe. I long for new opportunities to glimpse these realities through this artful sound.


At home, on the road, and at work, I carry the music with me to inspire pensiveness and awe. Space itself lends a gravity to the imagery, but the tales of the Endless, their self-destruction, and the burgeoning interstellar civilizations that later followed them makes every piece another part of an inspirational, forward-looking march toward a better future, permanently bound to and haunted by the immutable past and those who would repeat it. How incredible would it be to emerge onto the scene of space expansion, having united the necessarily large number of people and resources that would require, only to find yourself amongst a new struggle for survival against a multitude of sentient alien species?


I muse about the similarities between the Endless tale and that of humanity. Weapons of mass destruction threaten the very existence of our species. All sorts of methods are hypothesized necessary to unite all or annihilate all but one of our competing nation-states and/or their primary ideologies. The best thing about the past is that it is the past; it is full of atrocity, struggle, misunderstanding, and grave error. What is our way forward? Will no conflict end but to be replaced by another, larger conflict? If space does not threaten us with sentient alien invasion, does the story of humanity end where it seems to have started, here on Earth? In our yet mortal lives, does any of it even matter at all?


I am long-winded.


So far in my life, I have known comfort and sadness while the stories of other places and other peoples have endured mortal hardship. It seems I could go on doing the same dance until my time is no more. As I slowly acquire wealth, I find value in fewer and fewer material things. "What is there even to buy?" I ask myself, though I posess no miraculous fortune except to have been born where I was born, where disease and death did not walk in the streets and where the very fruits of distant lands found their way to a store near me for my utmost convenience.


Indeed, I am carrying on this dance, but I desire a new song. These songs, slow and sweeping, make me feel like I am not alone in the sorrow I feel and in the desire I have for a brighter tomorrow for humankind.


I have played very little of the Endless games, first purchasing Endless Space for its remarkable soundtrack. Truth be told, I am afraid I don't even like 4X games, but every single purchase has always been worth it. I remember burning the Endless Space OST to a CD so I could listen to it on my stereo at home. I purchased Endless Space almost six years ago to the day—it was November 26, 2012. Since then I've been as quick on buying any new titles or updates with music as my little wallet could reasonably handle. Now I have more wallet than I need to justify buying needless things like games and music.


I've run out of Endless things to buy in the Steam store. A few functional merch items wouldn't be out of the question at a small premium, sure. I'll keep buying any new games with more music. I cannot escape the reality that the same small audio portfolio wears on my ears and on my interest; 't'is the nature of all stimuli to fade from intensity to familiarity to boredom.


I would pay a hefty premium just for new music by FlyByNo, especially featuring Gary Soubrier. Considering my lack of devotion to the games themselves, you could say I already have. I found Maobi on Bandcamp and I now I own those albums too. Worship the Endless is my favorite song, period.


Maybe my interest is unique, and my budget uncommon, but I'm not the only one interested.


Whatever you guys do to create the music I enjoy so much, please continue if you are able. I'll buy it.