In den Gärten Pharaos

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In den Gärten Pharaos is the second album by the German band Popol Vuh. It came out in 1971 on the Pilz label.

Florian Fricke expanded the use of the Moog synthesizer and other experimental electronic sounds on this album. The first track on side A, also titled In den Gärten Pharaos, is a calm, meditative piece with rippling water sounds, Moog, Fender Rhodes, and African percussion. It was recorded at Trixi Studio in Munich. The second track, Vuh, is built around a single big organ chord, creating a wide, epic sound. It uses Turkish percussion and layers of cymbals. Vuh was recorded on a medieval cathedral organ in the St. Margareta church in Baumburg (Altenmarkt), Southern Germany.

Critics praised the album for its growth and unity. Perfect Sound Forever said it felt more mature and unified than Popol Vuh’s previous album Affenstunde. Mark Lager called it a mind-blowing, awe-inspiring mystical experience. FACT magazine ranked it the 5th greatest album of the 1970s.

All tracks were written by Popol Vuh. The album runs 37:25. In 2004, a CD reissue added bonus tracks: Kha-White Structures 1 and Kha-White Structures 2.

Release details: Genre is electronic and new age. Label is Pilz. Producers are Popol Vuh and Bettina Fricke. In the band’s chronology, it sits after Affenstunde (1970) and before Hosianna Mantra (1972).