AGUIRRE

The creative surge in the early 70s in Germany was felt in more areas then just music. Also the German cinema went through an artistic revolution. Both scenes met up on occasion and many of the film directors could be spotted at live gigs or were close friends with musicians. One of those relations was between Werner Herzog and Florian Fricke from Popol Vuh, who would deliver multiple film scores for Herzog's films.

The Aguirre movie dates from 1972, an important fact because it means the actual film score used material from the period when Popul Vuh was still an avant-garde electronic band. Actually, only the title track comes from the movie score. It's a mesmerizing piece with layers of eerie mellotron-alike choirs that goes through slowly shifting melodic patterns. It sounds dark, looming as well as angelic and uplifting.

The album is completed with a collection of songs from the 71-74 era, the acoustic tracks (MorgengruÃ? II and Agnus Dei) were already released on the previous studio albums. The presence of both the electronic avant-garde and the warm pastoral acoustic material makes this album into the ideal Popol Vuh introduction.

Depending on your version of the CD, you might end up with different track listings though. The most common issue you are likely to find now has 3 versions of the title track. The bonus Aguirre III adds moog and percussion and is absolutely stunning, part II doesn't deviate much from part I (except for the acoustic second half). There's also the 17 minute unworldly electronic minimalism of Vergegenwärtigung. The two acoustic pieces complete album.

Then there's a version that only has Aguirre I & II, together the two acoustic tracks and a 14 piece called Vergegenwärtigung that is entirely different from the 17 minute version on the regular CD. In fact that 14 minute version is a compilation of 3 acoustic tracks available on other Popol Vuh albums. By means of compensation you get the marvelous three part piano suite Spirit of Peace.

To make things entirely confusing, there's also a CD of the album which only has Aguirre I, followed by the two tracks from the In Den Gärten Pharaos album and the Spirit of Peace track.

Sorry if I got carried away on the different issues, but it's important because you have to make sure you get the one you want. The 2002/2005 re-issue is my preferred one due to the Aguirre III bonus. The other issues have the superb Spirit of Peace but that track is also available elsewhere. Anyway, one of Popol Vuh's best possible starting points.