Das Hohelied Salomos

• Artist: Popol Vuh
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1975
• Type: Contains explicit content
• Genre: Electronica

Review

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. ~ Wilson Neate, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Steh Auf, Zieh Mich Dir Nach	Florian Fricke	Popol Vuh	(4:46)
Du Schonste Der Weiber	Florian Fricke, Danny Secundus Fichelscher	Popol Vuh	(4:33)
In Den Nachten Auf Den Gassen I	Florian Fricke	Popol Vuh	(1:38)
Du Sohn Davids I	Florian Fricke	Popol Vuh	(3:03)
In Den Nachten Auf Den Gassen II	Florian Fricke	Popol Vuh	(3:29)
Der Winter Ist Vorbei	Florian Fricke	Popol Vuh	(3:45)
Ja, Deine Liebe Ist Süßer Als Wein	Danny Secundus Fichelscher	Popol Vuh	(3:42)
Du Sohn Davids II	Florian Fricke	Popol Vuh	(3:50)
Du Tranke Mich Mit Deinen Kussen	Florian Fricke, Danny Secundus Fichelscher	Popol Vuh	(4:58)

Credits

Popol Vuh (Main Performer), Daniel Fischelscher (Guitar), Frank Fielder (Synthesizer), Frank Fielder (Electronics), Florian Fricke (Piano), Florian Fricke (Arranger), Florian Fricke (Producer), Florian Fricke (Electronics), Florian Fricke (Mix Down), Florian Fricke (Group Member), Alois Gromer (Sitar), Shana Kuma (Tabla), Shana Kuma (Tambourine), Robert Wedel (Synthesizer), Robert Wedel (Electronics), Djong Yun (Saxophone), Djong Yun (Vocals), Djong Yun (Group Member), Danny Secundus Fichelscher (Guitar (Acoustic)), Danny Secundus Fichelscher (Percussion), Danny Secundus Fichelscher (Guitar (Electric)), Danny Secundus Fichelscher (Group Member), Wolfgang Loper (Engineer), Hardy Bank (Assistant), Ulli Eichberger (Art Direction), Ulli Eichberger (Design), Reinhard Langowski (Producer), Klaus Meier (Engineer), Libuse Tomas (Assistant)

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