POPOL VUH - Das Hohelied Salomos (1975-2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Das Hohelied Salomos continues along the same path as Hosianna Mantra (1972), Seligpreisung (1973), and Einsjäger & Siebenjäger (1974). Collaborating with guitarist/percussionist Daniel Fichelscher and soprano Djong Yun and adapting lyrics from the Old Testament's Song of Solomon, Florian Fricke crafts deeply spiritual music from a synthesis of Eastern and Western popular, classical and devotional traditions. Fichelscher's guitar and percussion are to the fore, often eclipsing Fricke's rippling piano melodies, and Yun graces most tracks with her serene, ethereal voice. As on Einsjäger & Siebenjäger, the group works with an economical palette, combining elements to create grand arrangements with subtly shifting rhythms, tempos, and textures. Here, however, the results are all the more expansive and majestic as the minimalist strokes coalesce in sweeping, cosmic swathes, most memorably on the meditative interludes "Du Sohn Davids I" and "In den Nächten auf den Gassen I," with its oceanic, mantric ebb and flow. With contributions from Alois Gromer (sitar) and Shana Kumar (tabla), Das Hohelied Salomos recovers some of the Eastern accent that was more evident on Hosianna Mantra and Seligpreisung: the standout in that regard is the lilting "Der Winter Ist Vorbei," which sets Yun's vocals amid Gromer and Kumar's hypnotic grooves. Elsewhere, there's a more seamless cultural hybrid: for instance, on "Steh auf, Zieh Mich Dir Nach," which gradually gathers momentum with Fricke's piano arpeggios and Fichelscher's rich, bluesy playing. That rock dimension is most emphatic on the closing "Du Tränke Mich mit Deinen Küssen," another track that builds slowly around layered, interweaving guitars. Das Hohelied Salomos encapsulates Fricke's gift for blending aspects of Western rock music's traditionally profane idiom with non-Western and non-rock aesthetics to pursue his unique vision of sacred music. by Wilson Neate  
Tracklist :
1    Steh Auf, Zieh Mich Dir Nach    4:44
Florian Fricke
2    Du Schönste Der Weiber    4:28
Danny Secundus Fichelscher / Florian Fricke
3    In Den Nächten Auf Den Gassen    1:33
Florian Fricke
4    Du Sohn Davids I    2:59
Florian Fricke
5    In Den Nächten Auf Den Gassen II    3:26
Florian Fricke
6    Der Winter Ist Vorbei    3:42
Florian Fricke
7    Ja, Deine Liebe Ist Süßer Als Wein    3:36
Danny Secundus Fichelscher
8    Du Sohn Davids II    3:47
Florian Fricke
9    Du Tränke Mich Mit Deinen Küssen    4:57
Danny Secundus Fichelscher / Florian Fricke
- Bonus Tracks (Formerly Unreleased) :    
10    In Den Nächten Auf Den Gassen III 2:10
Producer – Florian Fricke
11    Schön Bist Du Vor Menschensöhnen (Alternative Session) 2:45
Producer – Florian Fricke
12    Mitten Im Garten (Alternative Piano Version) 4:50
Producer – Florian Fricke
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar, Guitar [Electric], Percussion – Daniel Fichelscher
Electronics – Frank Fiedler, Robert Wedel
Producer, Electronics, Piano, Mixed By – Florian Fricke
Sitar – Al Gromer
Tabla – Shana Kumar
Vocals – Djon Yun