Customer Reviews

In the Gardens of Pharao

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD was one of the first Popol Vuh albums to be released from LP to CD, and as such it represents a real value for Popol Vuh fans. It contains the bulk of two releases: the soundtrack to Aguirre, Der Zorn Gottes; and the odd two-disk LP In den gartens Pharao.

You get 64:40 of killer Popol Vuh on this CD! The trade-off, on the other hand, is that it may duplicate material on other Popol Vuh CDs that you already have. This is a pretty consistent feature with Popol Vuh and may not be a real drawback for those of us who have to have everything, I mean everything, that Popol Vuh ever recorded.

Details: The first track is Aguirre, which reproduces the track Aguirre I on the soundtrack album. The second track, In the gardens of Pharao, is also on the CD release of Affenstunde. According to the (excellent) liner notes for Affenstunde, In den garten Pharaos was Popol Vuh's second album; the benefit that this CD has over Affenstunde is that it also contains -- track 3 -- the "B" side of the album originally released as In den garten Pharaos, a piece called Vuh.

Vuh is kind of an unusual piece for Popol Vuh: rather than focusing on electronic keyboards and synthesized or organic (!) vocals in the manner of many Popol Vuh pieces the feature instrument is an organ (and a beautifully voiced organ it is). This is a long (19:51) piece that, while the scoring is different, does what the best of Popol Vuh always does: opens the door through the wall of mortality into the pathway of the infinite. This is meditation music par excellence. It's always been a wonder to me that "new age" music hasn't made a bigger name out of Popol Vuh than it has: since Popol Vuh has been "out there" since the beginning.

The final tracks of the album are Spirit of Peace 1, 2, and three, familiar from the Aguirre soundtrack.

So: In this CD you get all of In den garten Pharaos and most of the Aguirre soundtrack. If you want more of the floating-down-the-river-going-insane music of Aguirre you can get it in the Aguirre soundtrack, which has in addition several pieces (Morgengruss II, Agnus Dei, and Vergegenwaertitung) which are not here; but you get a healthy chunk of the Aguirre soundtrack.

This, the second album released by the Munich-based group was called "In the gardens of Pharao" and was released in 1972. Each side consists of only one track and both could not be more different from another. The title track: well,imagine yourself 5000 years ago,in a little wooden boat drifting along the ancient river Nile, seeing Pharaos and Pyramids passing by. 20 minutes of beautiful "kosmische" music. On side two is the track "Vuh". A roaring church organ (played in Naumburg in Southern Germany), accompanied by turkish chimes and sacral voices propells you into a dimension you never thought you could be in. This is one of most unbelievable tracks of music I've ever heard, the power and intensity is almost too much to listen to and after it is finished you won't be able to listen to another song. It's hard to describe the music of Popol Vuh, for this is music you feel with an intensity almost no band in the electronic scene has ever reached, not Tangerine Dream or countless others. And what makes this one even more special is that it was recorded such a long time ago. If you're into electronic music, this is the one you m-u-s-t own!

This is simply a wonderful CD from the beginning till the end.It's just 65 minutes of deep meditation.All the four tracks are deeply spiritual,mystical musical soundscapes performed using only the minimum of instruments.After more than 30 years when it was first released it sounds awesome and will give you one of the deepest musical experiences.Together with Tangerine Dream,Klaus Schulze,Neu,Can,Cluster,Faust this is an essential Krautrock of early 70's.Highly recommended!

"Aguirre" sets the mood...(a minimal 2 part invention, all synth.) I envisualize a jungle forrest shrouded and misty..."In The Gardens" to me represents well the voyage of a Pharo during after-life...synth sounds of a beating heart give way quickly to sounds of the sea then on and on meeting different figures in the Egpytian under-world. At one point a conga, keyboard jam (imagine Santana with no guitar, bass or kit-drums)...This songs 17 minutes can seem like 10 or 25...it's one of those songs, if you know what I mean. No vocals at all, I listen to it out on the water paddleing through misty mangrove trails or by sand bars where shore-birds perch, it fits well. Then "Vuh"...I love to lie in the sun when I hear this, the organ (like a church organ) bathes the listener like sun-light...Imagine the Pharo now being transformed into light becomeing 'ONE' with 'ALL'. A synth-chorus and fitting percusion fill-out the image...a very meditative piece to take ones mind away to...?..."Spirit Of Piece" 1-3 are minimal and subdued piano pieces, not to my tastes as much (kinda' boreing). Tracks 2 & 3 are worth the asking price though. The disc has very-good sound, play-back is loud but clear. One star is added for the 'UNUSUAL' factor. Recomended for listeners of 'Soundscape-type' musics.

This kind of music is very relaxing and soothing, with tracks like "Vuh" and "In the Gardens of Pharao" which reminded me of some early Pink Floyd tracks, with their long duration and atmospheric sound. However, I particularly liked "Spirit of Peace", in which the electronic synthesizer gives place to the piano, something which is characteristic of albums Popol Vuh released later. As an instrument it has a softer, more romantic sound, appropriate for melodic, rather than experimental pieces.

I have been a fan of Popol Vuh for over 25 years and particularly think the Tantric Songs/Hosianna Mantra cd is completely incredible. I recently purchased this cd and couldn't find a single cut that I liked.

It felt like sounds were pasted together instead of flowing, and that this was a low point in their career. Please listen to the samples carefully so that you make your own decision.

This album is makes a perfect aural backdrop for such tasks as: sorting through unpaid bills; cleaning the fishtank; drinking gin by the pool at 3.00 am; trimming toenails; staring blankly at the wall; developing photos; doing crossword puzzles.

SUPERB! -OUT OF THIS WORLD MUSIC!