The Werner Herzog Soundtracks

Beautifully packaged comes with a long box (which is actually rare since most come now in clam shell or slip case boxes). It comes with a 90 page small cd size book. It contains stories from Florian and Herzog, photos from the movie though it does not say too much about the movie soundtrack. Like the previous reviewer mentioned that the booklets in each cd are the same though not a bother since the book supplements it.Why the 3 stars? Simply the music here is mostly soundscapes which supports the movie. Do not expect a kraut or kosmik rock endeavor like Tangerine Dream, Can or Ash ra tempel. This is mostly tantric, mellow, ethnic, drone, ambient, atmospheric music similar to Tangerine Dream's pre Pheadra albums. There are no music driven sequencers. All four albums are unique in musical content, except Fitzerraldo. This soundtrack was deluded by Pavarotti like operatic music that can be numbing. The sound is remastered and gives you sonic pleasure in loud volume. I used the music for reading, relax or to fall asleep. At the current price it is a good addition to your cd collection since the box presentation is excellent but the musical content is something you can reserve after you have exhausted all your best or top cds. Recommended for soundtrack collectors, box set collectors, ambient music listeners but if you expect a Tangerine Dream with sequencers, you will be disappointed.

I have been a long-time Popol Vuh fan ever since I first saw Nosferatu on its first release and Fitzcarraldo (together with the making of that movie entitled Burden of Dreams, describing among other things, Mick Jagger's departure from Fitzcarraldo due to extended delays in the production). The movies and the accompanying soundtracks were fantastic. As it is with Tangerine Dream soundtracks augmenting their movies, Popol Vuh is a perfect match to Werner Herzog films. I was excited when these soundtracks were finally released in a set, bringing together the best of the early efforts of Herzog and Popol Vuh. I was not disappointed. The CDs are each housed in covers that feature the original artwork of the original releases and the hardcover booklet has some amazing pictures of the movies and of the band - background histories and commentaries. I highly recommend this set and, from what I read, it is limited to 5,000 pressings?! Well worth the money.

Now then....Anyone who loves Krautrock or the sounds of Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Eno, Philip Glass or Neu! should drop everything and buy this immediately!I discovered Popol Vuh through Werner Herzog's films and any fan of his will simply love this set of soundtracks.The box set itself is also beautiful: Deep prussian blue box which contains each album cd in their own separate illustrated cover. A real work of art within a work of art.There is also a fantastic full-colour booklet included.It is, in short, a beautiful item which needs buying by anyone who loves moving and terrifying music.GET IT.NOW!

At the time I bought this the set was ridiculously cheap, like $23 or some such. And that qualifies as a major bargain. The sound quality is excellent, the packaging nice and a cool booklet also included. If you find it for a good price and like Popol Vuh's work with Herzog, this is a no-brainer.

Worth every penny. This is an outstanding collection and inspires me every time I listen to it. The booklet is great as well and I am so impressed with how Werner Herzog speaks about both Florian and Kinski. All players mentioned in the book are truly remarkable people. I was very moved with this purchase.

This was made with real love and care. The package design is beautiful, something designed to house a very special treasure. The sound is very pure, it lets Popol Vuh's soundtracks emerge with a magnificent spiritual nakedness. I pity so much anyone who's not among the 5,000 ones to own this box set...

Really unique!

Agreed, wonderful to have all these compiled in one place with pristine audio mixes. An incredible variety of genres, even within one disc - Nosferatu has Indian sitars and tablas I don't remember in the least.HOWEVER, one big bummer: All five discs include 5 little booklets - which are all exactly the same! No particular details on the individual soundtracks or any insights into each album's unique inspriration, influences or creation. There is an additional hardbound booklet, which more or less reprints the essays in the CD booklets. The essays again contain no real informational insights, just a number of glowing puff pieces on Florian Fricke. Still, the music is most important and does glow, but considering the prestige packaging, somebody really cheaped out on the booklets.

This is a beautiful boxset representing excellent value for money, when you think how much it would cost to buy the CDs individually. The music of Popol Vuh is timeless, refreshing and deceptively simple: simple it may be, but once it sinks into your mind, it's unforgettable. The albums included in the set are amongst the best works of Popol Vuh and span a number of styles (the spooky electronics of Aguirre, the African songs of Cobra Verde, the poignant melancholy of Nosferatu), which are, at the same time, different and yet typically Popol Vuh.The packaging is of a satisfyingly good finish and quality, whilst the design is suitably restrained and simple (that word again!). Of course, it won't fit in a CD rack, but it will look well on your bookshelf! There are many great photos in the book; the text is not especially informative (and some of it is repeated in each CD booklet) but why not let the music speak for itself? In any case, part of the appeal of Popol Vuh (and of Florian Fricke, its genius loci) is that air of ancient, inscrutable mystery that says "You don't need to understand every detail here - just enjoy it acceptingly, without questioning".For fans wanting to complete their Popol Vuh collection, or for those just discovering this wonderful music, this boxset is an absolute must.

Excelente box set donde lo mejor y con diferencia, es la música: las cinco BSOs de Popol Vuh para Werner Herzog con un sonido excelente. Por contra, la presentación no está a la altura ; la caja en sí es muy chula pero el artwork de los discos es horroroso: menos la portada, todos los digipacks, libretos incluidos, son iguales. Decepcionante, un grupo como Popol Vuh merece una mejor presentación. El librito que acompaña al box set es chulo también, con fotos y textos ineditos, que se repiten en parte en los libretos individuales. A pesar de esto, aconsejo su adquisición pues el precio es increíblemente asequible y una buena manera para acercarse a una música bella y fascinante, que llega al fondo del alma, del corazón y de la mente. Disfrutadla.

Per tutti gli amanti dei Popol Vuh e del Krautrock anni settanta è veramente un Must! Confezionato in maniera impeccabile anche con un libricino cartonato che riporta fotografie del periodo non pubblicate prima ed interviste. I dischi sono quelli dell'edizione rimasterizzata dalla SPV e tenendo conto del costo singolo di ciascun album, l'acquisto della presente confezione è da farsi senza nemmeno pensarci un minimo sopra! Veramente molto soddisfatto.

Classico esempio di summa migliore delle singole parti. Acquistato unicamente per Aguirre, l'unico classico dei Popol Vuh che ancora mancava nella mia personale collezione di dischi, è un cofanetto che ha nell'eleganza minimale il suo punto di forza. All'interno le colonne sonore sono presentate tali e quali alle edizioni comprabili singolarmente, ma in più qui abbiamo un libretto cartonato ricco di belle foto, interviste e dichiarazioni.Cosa davvero straordinaria è il prezzo: comprato a 23 euro (ora il prezzo è salito) quando i singoli dischi dei PV si aggirano tutti attorno ai 20. Le colonne sonore soffrono bene o male tutte di ricostruzioni discografiche molto discutibili, ma il corpus collaborativo tra Fricke e Herzog non può smettere di ammaliare per la sua potenza e unicità.

Bei der Kollektion der WH-Soundtracks handelt es sich um eine Veröffentlichung, die ihresgleichen auf dem hiesigen Markt sucht. Das Layout der Box kann in seiner Hochwertigkeit vollauf überzeugen und ist sowohl für Werner-Herzog-Fans als auch Freunde der deutschen Popularmusik der 70er eine lohnenswerte Anschaffung. Leider fehlen einige, nicht von Fricke stammende Musikstücke aus den Filmen auf den Soundtrack-CD's (z. B. Wagners Rheingold-Ouvertüre aus dem Film "Nosferatu - Phantom der Nacht"), was sehr schade ist. Dennoch bekommt die Zusammenstellung von mir die Höchstnote, da mir etwas Vergleichbares bisher noch nicht begegnet ist.