IN DEN GÄRTEN PHARAOS

When you think of the Electronic genre i'm sure POPOL VUH doesn't come to mind for most people, yet Florian's first two albums are very influential Electronic recordings.Their first called "Afenstunde" was released in 1970 and "In Den Garten Pharaos" in 1971, clearly both of these albums influenced TANGERINE DREAM and Klause Schulze who would follow their lead. In fact Florian would play moog on TANGERINE DREAM's "Zeit" double album which was released in 1972. I like what Brandon from Ground & Sky says, and I paraphrase here. "Both TANGERINE DREAM and Schulze's objectives seem to be to take people into space with their music to reach for the planets and stars. Florian's objective through music was to take people into the very presence of God". Percussion and moog synthesizers lead the way on this album which consists of two side long tracks. There is some piano and cymbals as well, while organ is prominant on the second song.

"In Den Garten Pharaos" opens with the sound of water splashing around as a beat comes in. It turns into a haunting soundscape quickly and we can still hear the water. It's like were on a journey to God and we're travelling up a river. The water sounds stop when the percussion returns at 5 minutes. It's still eerie and spacey. The percussion is the focus after 11 minutes. It settles 13 minutes in as piano joins in.The water sounds are back 16 minutes in to the end.

"Vuh" opens with cymbals and powerful organ sounds. Lots of atmosphere here. A beat before 4 1/2 minutes starts to break through the waves of sound. A change a minute later as the organ again dominates filling the soundscape with it's sound. Percussion is back around 8 1/2 minutes. It's intense 11 minutes in. Some relief from that 14 1/2 minutes in as it lets up and all that is left is the organ and waves of sound. Percussion is back before 16 minutes then it calms down one more time at 17 1/2 minutes to the end.

This is a must for POPOL VUH and Electronic-Prog fans. Very interesting for me to hear this other side of Florian from early in his career. In my opinion this is as good as TANGERINE DREAM and Klause Schulze albums that would follow.