''In den Gärten Pharaos'' ("In the Gardens of the Pharaoh") is the second album by German band

Popol Vuh ''Popol Vuh'' (also ''Popol Wuj'' or ''Popul Vuh'' or ''Pop Vuj'') is a text recounting the mythology and history of the Kʼicheʼ people, one of the Maya peoples, who inhabit Guatemala and the Mexican states of Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan and ...

, released in 1971 by record label Pilz.

Content

On ''In den Gärten Pharaos'',

Florian Fricke Florian Fricke (23 February 1944 – 29 December 2001) was a German musician who started his professional career with electronic music using the Moog synthesizer within the krautrock group Popol Vuh. His music and that of the band however soon e ...

made more extensive use of the

Moog synthesizer The Moog synthesizer is a modular synthesizer developed by the American engineer Robert Moog. Moog debuted it in 1964, and Moog's company R. A. Moog Co. (later known as Moog Music) produced numerous models from 1965 to 1981, and again from 20 ...

and experimental

electronic Electronic may refer to: *Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductor * ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal *Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device *Electronic co ...

sounds. On side A is the title track "In den Gärten Pharaos", an ancient, contemplative meditation with the sound of rippling water, Moog synthesizer, Fender Rhodes, and African percussion. The Moog creates an exotic and alien sound while the African percussion and the water effects are interwoven throughout bringing the listener back to earth. The track was recorded at Trixi Studio in

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...

. The second song "Vuh" is dominated by one massive organ chord creating an epic wall of sound. "Vuh" uses the wide range of the organ, both the low drones and the high crescendos. Turkish percussion and layers of cymbals increase the intensity of the music. The song was then played and recorded on a medieval cathedral organ in the Stiftskirche St. Margareta, Baumburg (Altenmarkt) in Southern Germany. The organ was completely renewed in 1997.

Reception

'' Perfect Sound Forever'' described it as "an altogether more mature and unified work" than '' Affenstunde''.

Head Heritage Julian David Cope (born 21 October 1957) is an English musician and author. He was the singer and songwriter in Liverpool post-punk band the Teardrop Explodes and has followed a solo career since 1983 in addition to working on musical side proj ...

described it as "the most mind-blowing mystical experience" and "awe-inspiring".

Legacy

The album was ranked the 5th greatest of the 1970s by '' FACT'' magazine.

Track listing

Personnel

–

, Fender Rhodes, medieval cathedral organ *Holger Trülzsch – African and Turkish percussion *Frank Fiedler – Moog-Synthesizer-mixdown ; Additional personnel * Helmut Fritz – album cover * Steffen Metzner – sleeve photography

References

External links

*
Popol Vuh discography

{{DEFAULTSORT:In den Garten Pharaos Popol Vuh (band) albums 1971 albums Pilz (record label) albums