POPOL VUH... -LETZTE TAGE-LETZTE NÄCHTE... NEW CD IN DIGIPACK... Popol VuhKrautrock... Letzte Tage, Letzte Nächte (1976)... PLUS 3 BONUS TRACKS... It's hard for me to pick a favorite between this album and its magnificent predecessor, Einsjager & Siebenjager, but I might just slightly prefer the latter. That said, this...
POPOL VUH
-LETZTE TAGE-LETZTE NÄCHTE
NEW CD IN DIGIPACK
Popol Vuh
Krautrock
Letzte Tage, Letzte Nächte (1976)
PLUS 3 BONUS TRACKS
It's hard for me to pick a favorite between this album and its magnificent predecessor, Einsjager & Siebenjager, but I might just slightly prefer the latter. That said, this album is still another incredible outing from the German band Popol Vuh, and remains one of my all time favorite records. Letzte Tage, Letzte Nächte is exceedingly guitar dominated, like the previous platter, and is infused with an even darker emotional power; shrouded in mysterious, enchanting atmosphere. Guitarist Daniel Fischelscher gets a healthy amount of song writing credits here, which is great, considering that I thought his playing was the best part of Einsjager and Siebenjager. Although Popol Vuh was a band of remarkable consistency throughout the decade, these two albums perhaps represent them at their best, apparently being the best examples of progressive rock they produced. And rock they do. In contrast to some of their more meditative earlier albums, like Hosianna Mantra and Seligpreisung, this album is powerful, loud and overwhelming, as Fischelscher's soaring guitar solos are offset by layers of acoustic and electric melodies, fused together with Florian Fricke's gorgeous classical piano motifs.
Like the previous album, all the songs flow together as one continuous piece, and breaks between tracks are hardly noticeable. However, the more prominent vocal parts make it easier to distinguish certain "songs" from each other. Djong Yun's majestic voice dominates the album, joined by former Amon Duul II frontwoman Renate Knaup on the title track, making for an absolutely glorious combination of sublime female chanting atop the already mystical musical backdrop. "Kyrie" is especially beautiful, based around an exquisite vocal melody, and continues into "Haram Dei..." and the sublime "Dort Ist Der Weg". However, the highlight track is without a doubt "Letzte Tage, Letzte Nächte", which is sung, in English, as "Last days, last nights". The dual, layered vocals here are spectacular. The earlier portion of the album is more instrumentally based, my favorite perhaps being the rollicking opener "Der Krosser Weiger", a Fischelscher composition, which begins with an extraordinary melodic guitar part before launching into a driving and powerful groove. The only problem with this album is its length, clocking in at a mere 30 minutes, but it is otherwise impeccable. One of the band's defining efforts. - Greg Northrup [March 2001]
Letzte Tage, Letzte Nächte¿
Tracklisting :
1)Der große Krieger 03:10
2) Oh wie nah ist der Weg hinab 04:34
3) Oh wie weit ist der Weg hinauf 04:33
4) In Deine Hände 03:01
5) Kyrie ^ 04:34
6) Haram Dei Raram Dei Haram Dei Ra 01:27
7) Dort ist der Weg 04:29
8) Letzte Tage-Letzte Nächte 04:20
Bonustracks* (formerly unreleased)
9) Wanderschaft- Wanderings 05:56
0) Gib hin (session version) 02.30
11) Haram Dei Ra 06:32
(alternative version)
This German space rock group's sixth album, from 1976, one of their greatest achievements. Blissfully clangy/reverbed out guitars that are precursors to the sounds of Television and Sonic Youth. Beauty of the ethereal Orient. Serene invocations, otherworldly power and tranquility.
"Last Days, Last Nights" is how you would say this title in English.
Originally released in 1976. Features Florian Fricke: piano; Daniel Fichelscher: guitars, percussion; Djong Yun: vocal; Renate Knaup: vocal; Al Gromer: sitar and Ted DeJong: tamboura.
Popol Vuh was founded by mastermind Florian Fricke in Munich in 1970 and are known as pioneers of electronic music as well as the predecessors of the 90's ambient and trance genre. Florian Fricke was one of the first German musicians who worked with a MOOG III, an instrument which created a very new and special sound which was profiled on Affenstunde. This album quickly became a milestone and practically created a whole new genre. The name and the book Popol Vuh stems from Incan mythology and is the memory of the evolution of humanity. Florian Fricke doesn't like to catagorize his music; "Music is a form of law for me." He died on December 29, 2001 in Munich. Kraut Rock at the highest level made by, and for music fans !
All Popol Vuh re-releases are manufactured as high quality collector's series with stickers indicating the bonus tracks. The Digipak spines have a design and when all are put together they form one big picture.
Studio Album, released in 1976
Line-up / Musicians
- Florian Fricke / piano
- Daniel Fichelscher / guitar, percussion
- Djong Yun / vocals
- Renate Knaup / vocals
- Al Gromer / sitar
- Ted De Jong / tamboura
