LETZTE TAGE - LETZTE NÄCHTE

The Kraut tag is a bit misleading for the 72-76 Popol Vuh albums. With acoustic ethnic instruments, clean guitars, piano and dry subdued drums, this subtle melodious music evokes a spiritual pastoral feel that has little to do with the cosmic sounds, nor with the experiments, the mind-expanding trips, or with the psychedelic rock of other Kraut bands. But with two previous Amon Düül II members in the line-up, Letzte Tage Letzte Nächte is the most rocking and Kraut-y album they ever made and my favorite together with In Dem Garten Pharaos from the early electronic period.

Florian Fricke would soon steer the band into soundtrack writing for Herzog's movies, which makes Letzte Tage Letzte N'chte the last album of this 'classic' Popol Vuh era. Renate Knaup from Amon Düül II had joined the band on vocals, and together with Djong Yun she delivers some of het best vocals since the early Amon Düül II days. The music on this 30 minute short album is very intricate and intense. It's not too difficult to get into but it still needs many listens before all things fall into place. In a way, these 30 minutes get more things going then the average 60 minute you are likely to bump into these days.

The 2005 reissue adds 3 worthy bonus tracks of which two are instrumental. The other one has vocals from - I assume - Florian Fricke himself, which would make Haram Dei Ra his first vocal appearance since the Seligpreisung album. It's the umpteenth 'Haram Dei' of Popol Vuh but it's a very good one.

It doesn't happen often that one has to recommend the 7th album from a 70s artist, but I would sure do it for this one, it pleads for Florian Fricke's artistic integrity and perseverance to continue improving his music. With its more rocking and slightly darker tone, you can still here echoes of this music today in the works of bands like Wovenhand and Grails. Recommended!