Search - Popol Vuh :: Agape-Agape

More Subdued Gothic Sound

Steve Zubal | Pine Island FL | 02/15/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Review for 'Spalax' edit. 1992...8 tracks 37+ mins. no bonus like latter edit. A middle of the road record 50/100 for music content. Mostly instrumental, vocals are chants in choir and chorus form...no traditional lyric forms. The title track has a nice gypsy sound, acoustic guitars and minimalized drum (tabor). A good campfire song,...I prefer this track and track 2, an all guitar peice vaguely reminisent of 1972s 'Hosianna Mantra'. Conny Veit guitarist on that record and 73s 'Seligpreisung' returns for this one. Renate Knaup is also featured alongside 'Fricke' and 'Fichelscher',...with this line up I expected a greater recording! I wouldn't call it uninspired or depressing...though some might feel that way. It's short 29+ mins. not counting the last track, which as the title suggests is a real sleeper. Renate had recorded one of the 80s best (albeit) unsung albums "Vortex" 1981 with Amon Duul 2,...here shes in a limited role. So if your looking for more 'Vortex' this album is the polar oppisite. If your looking for something with a more somber (alone in a dark casstle) mood...you might look here, though I'll make no promises. As the cover art suggests this music may be seen from the point of view of a Pharo entombed awaiting transformation("Why Am I Still Sleeping"?). Mainly for completeists, I suggest albums 2-5, '71-'74 (I don't have their 1st...yet!) all are 80/100-90/100 five star records and buzz-worthy."