Popol Vuh

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Germany (1970 – 2001)

Popol Vuh is a proto-ambient experimental rock / krautrock band from Germany founded by Florian Fricke in 1970 together with Holger Trulzsch (percussion) and Frank Fiedler (electronics). Other important members during the next two decades included Daniel Fichelscher and Bob Eliscu.

It began with an electronic approach as heard on first album Affenstunde, inspired by the invention of the Moog synthesizer. This continued for only one more album, In den Gärten Pharaos, before Fricke largely abandoned electronic instruments in favour of piano-led compositions from 1972’s Hosianna Mantra forward. This album also marked the start of exploring overtly religious themes rather than a more generally spiritual feeling within the music. The group evolved to include all kinds of instruments: wind, percussion and strings, electric and acoustic alike, combined to convey a mystical aura that made their music spiritual and introspective.

Popul Vuh influenced many other bands from Europe with their uniquely soft but elaborate instrumentations, that took inspiration from Tibet, Africa, and Precolombian America. They created dream-like soundscapes along with psychedelic walls of sound, and are considered by some to be precursors of contemporary world music, as well of new age music and ambient.

The band contributed soundtracks to the films of Werner Herzog, including Nosferatu, Aguirre, Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo, and The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, in which Fricke appeared.

Florian Fricke died in Munich on December 29, 2001, and the group disbanded.

Tagged as:

krautrock, ambient, experimental, progressive rock, psychedelic
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Hosianna Mantra
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Tantric Songs / Hosianna Mantra
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Aguirre
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In den Gärten Pharaos
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Top Tracks

1	Kyrie full track	185
2	Ah! full track	181
3	Listen He Who Ventures full track	94
4	Vuh full track	91
5	Hosianna-Mantra	62
6	Segnung	61
6	Andacht	61
8	Aguirre full track	55
9	Mantra of the Touching of the Heart full track	54
10	Aguirre II	53
11	Abschied	52
12	Nicht hoch im Himmel	48
13	Morgengruß	46
14	Mantra of the Touching of the Earth full track	44
15	Agnus Dei	43

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wirelessdarknes wrote:
Saturday afternoon

loosely kraut-rock to me but i completely understand the tag. breathtaking, but these guys work with a magical recording quality that really reflects a time and aesthetic perfectly...

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sergejstankovic wrote:
last month

I like movies "Nosferatu" and "Aguirre" both, and I like their soundtracks, but I prefer "Aguirre". Strange, but I think movie and music tell us two different stories... It's seems like a madness of Aguirre and his companions is a victory on some strange way.

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Standingonair66 wrote:
last month

Seems interestin

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NicDowse wrote:
last month

guru

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JDC1988 wrote:
October 2009

Breath takingly Amazing.

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Clashnroller wrote:
October 2009

To create.

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goldione wrote:
October 2009

The Transcendent Music Of Popol Vuh ... http://www.furious.com/perfect/populvuh.html

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24db wrote:
October 2009

If you like Krautrock (and by this I mean Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Faust, Harmonia and Cluster) then don't forget BBC Four on Oct 23rd, 2009 (at 9.00pm) and the documentary Krautrock: The Rebirth Of Germany

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rachcouture wrote:
September 2009

Could anyone point me in the direction of more psychedelic chamber music like Hosianna Mantra?

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M3nT4T73 wrote:
September 2009

Sei still, wisse ICH BIN!...

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IAJP wrote:
August 2009

FUCKING HELL.

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javier0889 wrote:
August 2009

Aguirre is an amazing soundtrack for an amazing movie

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Prayermad wrote:
August 2009

yo

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Clashnroller wrote:
August 2009

Nothing gets better than Hosianna Mantra.

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YaaPaa wrote:
July 2009

Ideal climate for the dark Herzog `s movies.

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Zerstiren wrote:
May 2009

Yes, this band is really too good to believe.

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ValtielXIII wrote:
May 2009

Perhaps)) But that's one of the best krautrock bands definitely!)

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rokerflaguer wrote:
April 2009

a german band with mayan influences?

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TeenageCreep wrote:
April 2009

west meets east and they have a son: Popol Vuh

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nihilismexe wrote:
April 2009

One of my top 5 bands, of all time.

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