IN DEN GÄRTEN PHARAOS

Much like Ash Ra Tempel's debut album from the same year, the second Popol Vuh album consists of one side-long spacey jam that builds up into a furious climax and a more sedate (though still spacey and cosmic) second half. However, the sound of Popol Vuh is very different from Ash Ra Tempel's - despite the Mesoamerican theme of Popol's name and Ash Ra's album cover, Popol Vuh succeeds far better in attaining a "world music" atmosphere with enough hints of traditional music from around the world to give it a bit of flavour and bite. (This is particularly pronounced in the percussion work on the first side.) Of the two albums, I'd say this one has the edge.