IN DEN GÄRTEN PHARAOS

The second Popol Vuh album and the last to use the big Moog. The first album was more of an experiment with the Moog and bongos. This one feels more like a thought out album. Afer this, Florian Fricke would sell his Moog to Klaus Schulze, discover religion and create a different sound for his group. There are only two songs on the original album: the title track(which you can listen to on PA) and the very different "Vuh".

"In den Garten Pharaos" starts with the sound of water. Some percussive sounds on Moog. Then atmospheric Moog with the water sounds. Later percussion comes in. Moog gets more atonal and noisy. Then the Moog gets spacier. For awhile the big ole Moog dies down and the percussion playing gets faster and louder. It sounds like the bongos of the first album, but supposedly Holger Trulzsch is using more varied percussion this time. After more spaciness. Then the track switches to a part featuring some beautiful Fender Rhodes. The percussion plays something close to a beat with some Moog sounds. The percussion playing gets looser and the water sounds come back.

"Vuh" is mostly a church organ and gong. Some percussion comes in and then dies out. Parts of this piece are very hypnotic and you could easily lose yourself in the music. Later some Moog sounds. After awhile lots of cymbals and the percussion comes back. This is some very heady music.

It's hard to describe long instrumental songs. The music here is rhythmic and spacey, hypnotic and avant. Very little melody but there is a some here. Definately not background music. This requires your full attention. I wish Popol Vuh would have continued in this direction. A must hear album. 4 stars.