ON THE WAY TO A LITTLE WAY

Although it seems like Werner Herzog's Nosferatu's soundtrack (1979), this is not exactly true, but all in all, it really does not matter as a listening experience solely. Excerpts of the whole work were actually used for the movie and if you watched it (as I did, many years ago), it will almost be impossible not to build, in your own mind, a mixture of imaginary and the real movie vampire story.

Market wise Popol Vuh opened themselves to new audiences via art cinema in the hands of Herzog's fantasies, they already have worked with him in AGUIRRE (1975).

Ok enough with the movie talk. Dark menacing symphonic like musical structures counterpointed by Popol Vuh's multi-national bright/dark instrumentation. The compositions are sparkled with minimal drone like and highly attractive and visual passages. Its dynamic and well thought song distribution, as well, tells its own vampire story.

Another virtue this release holds is its natural approach to mid-ages european folklore but sounding atemporal the same way (which is in fact one of Popol Vuh's constant compositional lines).

To expect Krautrock (or Rock to that matter) will not happen, but that in itself is why Popol Vuh's musical language is so unique and the fact of being so obscure in its styling charges the music into a then not explored territory by this ensemble.

****4 PA stars.