Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

Personnel: Sabine Merbach (vocals); Florian Fricke (keyboards); Daniel Fischelscher (drums).
Recording information: 1973.
Whereas the first record was psychedelic space rock acid jams, on their second album, Gila, now consisting of mostly Popol Vuh members, offered something far more sedate. Though Conny Veit was always the leader of Gila, this one comes off much more like a solo effort. The record is a concept album inspired by the book of the same name by Dee Alexander Brown that brought the plight of the North American Indians to international attention. Complex multi-tracked acoustic guitar melodies create a shimmering, even haunting beauty in a lushly Baroque setting, while some of the lyrics are taken from various Native American texts. "The Buffalo Are Coming," with its long instrumental section as well as Native American styled rhythms and chanting, is the high point. Otherwise the vocals distract somewhat from the music, and the whole thing comes off as too much with a smooth new age vibe, especially when compared to the acid-damage blastoff of the earlier Gila album. ~ Rolf Semprebon