Popol Vuh - Mantras The Albums 1970-1972 Popol Vuh

Popol Vuh was founded by Florian Fricke in 1969. He was initially enthused by the possibilities of using the Moog synthesiser as a compositional tool alongside ethnic percussion and ambient soundscapes. Their debut album, ‘Affenstunde’ (translated as 'Hour Of The Monkey') was issued in 1970 and was one of the earliest albums to feature the use of a Moog synthesiser and ambient electronic sounds. Fricke's compositions possessed a unique otherworldly quality which would influence successive generations of musicians. 'Affenstunde' was greeted with acclaim upon release and is now regarded as a landmark recording in the history of electronic and ambient music. ‘In den Gärten Pharaos’, issued in 1971, expanded on the template begun with their debut and was a work of stunning originality. The record is now viewed as one of the finest German albums of the era.

The 1972 album ‘Hosianna Mantra’ was a stylistic departure from the band’s first two records. Florian Fricke abandoned the use of the Moog synthesiser and instead employed acoustic instrumentation such as piano, oboe and tambura. The record also featured evocative vocals by Korean singer Djong Yun and guitar contributions from Conny Veit. The resulting album was one of the most inspiring, evocative and beautiful works to emerge in Germany in the 1970s and its fusion of ethnic, classical and ambient influences remains unique.

This new box set features these albums beautifully mastered, but it also includes new immersive 5.1 and stereo mixes of ‘Hosianna Mantra’ by Stephen W Tayler on CD and Blu-ray along with a high-definition stereo master of ‘In den Gärten Pharaos’ from the original master tapes plus bonus video content featuring Popol Vuh’s appearances on German TV in the early 1970s including Popmusik In Deutschland and Beat Club.

The set also features an illustrated book with essay.