POPOL VUH
Seligpreisung (SPV Recordings)
Reviewed by Sherman Wick

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Seligpreisung (1973) is one of the weaker Popol Vuh records. Religious thought is central to the band's music, but on this record, there are too many "alleluias" and song titles that begin with "Holy Is" ("Selig Sind...") and not enough warped musical genius. Though it is fully integrated as a musical work, it contains fewer highlights compared to the daring synthesizer classic film scores such as Aguirre (1975) and Nosferatu (1978).

The record is based on original texts of Matthias Evangelium. They provide the lyrical content, which group leader, pianist-and unfortunately on this record, lead vocalist-Florian Fricke has revised. Fricke, who passed away in 2001, was an immense musical talent. However, he was not much of a lead singer, even for his unique bran of music; on most Popol Vuh records, he sang backup and enlisted additional singers as he flawlessly integrated psychedelic, electronic, world music, avant-garde and numerous other more obscure references. "Selig sind, die da Leid tragen," is a fine example of this. A rather sedate number evolves into a psychedelic jam on which he is joined by guitar and drums. And Fricke's vocal delivery meshes well with the song. Other tracks are not as adventurous as on the rest of the band's far superior catalog, such as "Selig sind die Sanftmütigen," which features staid piano tinkling and too many oboe fills.

Though not among Popol Vuh's best, Seligpreisung certainly grows on you after repeated listening. And "Ja, sie sollen Gottes Kinder heissen" alone is worth the price of the record. The lovely piano and idiosyncratic Eastern-influenced guitar playing place it among the group's best songs.

© 2005 - Sherman Wick