Thu Mar 25 2021
5
What fascinating noise. Never heard of these guys before and this was amazing.
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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Faust IV
Faust
1973
- Album Summary
Faust IV is the fourth studio album by the German krautrock group Faust, released in 1973. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, where it is referred to as a "krautrock classic". This was the last album by the first incarnation of the band, they returned in 1994 with the release of Rien featuring a different line-up.
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Thu Mar 04 2021
4
Alot of werid shiut but pretty awesome
Fri Jun 25 2021
5
That's amazing album. Don't think i could ever found it without tgis list! Pure jewel
Fri Sep 03 2021
4
I'm an advocate for weirdness in music. The easiest thing in the world is to listen to conventional mainstream music that is pleasant enough, but boring and not conducive to thought or real feeling. Some of the best musicians know what's pretty and conventional, but push against those boundaries in ways that are surprising, amusing, and occasionally unsettling. Faust IV by Faust does all these things. On this album, the band dabbles with a variety of styles, sounds, noises, textures. The band uses dissonance as just another tool in their box. They utilize twisty, distorted guitar and keyboards, tin pan alley style piano, random instruments as needed, and a lot of other beeps, blips and noise. They're both reminiscent of the previous decade's psychedelia and forward looking to ambient and electronic genres yet to come. The vocal style is both detached and whimsical at the same time. Lyrics are minimal and occasionally surreal. They are probably intended as ironic and mostly for texture and effect. But if you read the actual lyrics there are some oddly violent moments. The song lengths might seem daunting, but most of these songs are progressive in structure, by which I mean they wander and ramble from one style into the next. So a 7+ minute song like "Giggy Smile" actually feels like three shorter compositions. It's a great method, allowing the band to experiment with a lot of techniques, instrumentation and dissonance, without it ever being too tiring on the ear. Fave Songs: The Sad Skinhead, Giggy Smile, Krautrock, Jennifer
Mon Apr 05 2021
2
Krautrock. I was so excited to learn about this genre. That is, until I listened to it. Part way through the first track I labelled this electronica for boring people and decided their following must be from Frankfurt rather than Berlin. I liked Track 2 and became hopeful. Alas, track 3 reminded me that hope is the lowest form of consciousness. The only other song I liked was the last one. Oh well. Happy Easter Skinheads --
Sun Jan 24 2021
4
Never listened to any krautrock before, but I might just have to start adding some to my frequent listening library.
Wed Feb 22 2023
3
Faust IV is fine, but I think Faust Five is the best in the Faust and the Furious franchise.
Mon Jan 31 2022
5
4.6 - It starts off inauspiciously - just a couple of shaggy guitars, one in the foreground and one way in the back, a little playful organ and some tambourine. That goes on for about 12 minutes, trance-like. Not unpleasant but not impressive. "The Sad Skinhead" sounds like a Beatles-Zappa jam written and played spontaneously in someone's dressing room between sets. From there, the album launches into a swirly stratosphere. "Jennifer" has this bouncy bass-line that somehow grounds and elevates the entire arrangement before the song turns into a calm ocean of smeared colors. "Giggy Smile" is another extended jam with lots of staccato, which ends abruptly breaking the fifth wall as you hear the musicians conversing in German. "Lauft..." descends into some crazy machine-like click-clacks midway through before turning into an ambient Moog drone. "It's a Bit of a Pain" channels Brian Eno, taking a pretty acoustic ballad and blitzing it with electronic gurgles and guitar squeals.
Wed Mar 03 2021
4
Pretty good.
Thu Feb 04 2021
4
Long and weird, but it was a good listen.
Wed Aug 04 2021
4
Well that was way more fun than expected! Will definitely revisit later. I don’t even know where to place it, other than in my playlists
Fri Jan 21 2022
4
While the album linked to in Spotify has the year 2006, which is entirely believable, this is actually an album released in 1973. Remarkably experimental even by today's standard in 2022, it is a sincere case of a band sounding way before their time. Elements of Gorillaz, Radiohead, and the quirkiness of Beck are triggered comparisons, lending even more surprise that this was from the 70s. Overall, the album is actually really nice. Musically, the guitars are out front, melody and rhythm lack the repellent sounds and chaotic disarray of trance, or psychedelic compositions. Faust sounds like they are having fun, and their ability to groove is worthy of note.
Wed Feb 23 2022
4
Four stars An album which still holds its own many years after it was released, as bizarre (and wonderful) as it is, and an essential listen for anyone interested in experimental or groundbreaking music from the seventies. The only problem is that, contrary to other important names in that genre and era (Can obviously comes to mind here), it's not always an easy listen when you're going through this record in one take. One can even argue that some tracks are just weird just for the sake of being weird. That being said, it would be unfair to dismiss the *whole* of Faust IV, since there are also many moments on it that are mesmerizing, groovy, fun, mysterious, and even strangely addictive after several listens. The variety of surprising textures and arrangements displayed is a huge plus, navigating between rock, jazz, proto-techno and proto-punk still sounding as fresh and original as it did in 1973, as many other reviewers here pointed out ("proto" means part of the record is oddly prophetic of sounds to come). If only for this, it's a worthwhile listen, even if you'll never come back to it again. There's not much I can add that I feel could be relevant and interesting. Faust IV is for anyone who has even a remote interest in krautrock. Heck, it even seems they invented the term themselves with the name of the first track. A sure sign it's an essential listen. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 966 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 14 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 7 Albums from the list I will *not* include in mine (as I think many others are more important): 11 Albums I might not be able to judge (some might end up on my final list but it's because I recognize how culturally important they are): 2
Sun Jun 12 2022
4
Most pieces are in the mold of guitar-ambient, executed by Krautrock experts. Touches of the rural and the weird and plain old songwriting keep things fresh. Not many words here, but plenty of material to sit with.
Fri Nov 11 2022
4
I was pretty surprised at how much I enjoyed this album. Krautrock is a genre I have never actually heard of, let alone listened to. The production is somewhat lo-fi but also very listenable. The instrumentation is drone like and hypnotising. The vocals are purposefully rough, which is a good thing for the purpose of this album, give the album its unique vibe. It is a really good album, I will be listening to it again for sure. FAVORITE SONGS: - Giggy Smile - Jennifer - Lauft...Heisst Das Lauft Oder Es Kommit Bald..Lauft (that was a mission to type out) - It's A But Of A Pain 4/5
Wed Feb 03 2021
2
What a fascinating funky piece of music. I was expecting something along the lines of Rammstein. Not sure what I exactly got here. A couple earworm type songs. Not much else.
Mon Apr 05 2021
2
At first, I thought it was a Feist album, maybe I'd mis-remembered her name. Then I noticed that the first 12 minute song (described as a "drone-based instrumental") was called Krautrock and realized it wasn't our great Canadian folk-chick. I'd give it a higher mark if they stuck to their drone-based roots without the frequent forays into industrial noises, distortion, and cricket chirps. And the grating guitar solo in "A bit of a pain" is way more than a "bit" of a pain.
Mon Mar 13 2023
2
Made my cat freak out
Sun May 16 2021
1
I started out interested, but then every track seemed to be a repetitive drag. When I would find a track I liked, it would devolve into some extremely annoying sounds.
Fri Jul 23 2021
1
I gave it a chance... But kinda fucking sucks
Sun Oct 10 2021
1
Irritating, abrasive noise. Offers me nothing.
Wed Nov 24 2021
1
Ich Ben ein Berliner! Just trrbl...
Wed Nov 24 2021
1
This album actually gave me anxiety and stress, I was more calm after the songs were over. To me this was a lot of noise and not a ton of musicality.
Wed Nov 24 2021
1
Just a lot of noise for most songs... especially the first which never led to anything. Even the tracks that are "songs" stretch on for too long. Nothing exciting or very enjoyable.
Mon Dec 20 2021
1
Repetitive garbage
Thu Jul 08 2021
5
Good stuff!
Thu Dec 09 2021
5
This had many interesting styles and constructs. I would have enjoyed discovering it earlier in life!
Fri Jan 14 2022
5
No los conocía siquiera pero vaya discazo, me encanta, se pueden escuchar sus referencias, y se puede escuchar claramente su influencia en mucha de la música que escucho hoy en día. Un sonido, un estilo y una producción particular, pero no dejan atrás del todo lo melódico. Un disco interesante y también entretenido.
Sun Feb 06 2022
5
Краут шо Надо
Wed Mar 02 2022
5
Not my first time hearing it and I freaking love this record
Wed Mar 23 2022
5
Progressive German Synth Rock . Impressive and want to hear more of Faust .
Mon Apr 25 2022
5
classic
Thu May 05 2022
5
Muito detalhado, inspirador.
Wed Jun 15 2022
5
It seems to be the album that modern arthouse rock albums are based off of. And it is considerably better than its imitators
Thu Jun 16 2022
5
After "Neu! '75" another classic German experimental rock album from the early 70s on the list - this is my favourite Faust album - it is experimental but also very accessible and listenable at the same time (i would have been quite a bit surprised if it had not been included in the list).
Wed Oct 05 2022
5
No notes
Fri Nov 04 2022
5
This album immediately engaged me and I loved it. So diverse and special.
Thu Nov 17 2022
5
Krautrock ya. Bloody all over the place in a good way. Giggy Smile was especially great, especially the way it stops dead into the next track - the talking actually scared the shit out of me. Some pretty out there sounds all over it.
Mon Dec 05 2022
5
banger, perfekt blandning av konstiga grejer och trevligt att lyssna på
Wed Apr 26 2023
5
Albums like this are why I decided to listen to the 1001 Albums project. I wouldn't have found this on my own, but I'm glad I did. It was weird, forward-thinking, and constantly entertaining. I can imagine artists like Talking Heads, Brian Eno, and Devo listening to this incessantly.
Fri May 12 2023
5
Wow. I had heard some Faust but didn't really know what they were all about.
Mon Jun 05 2023
5
Jawohl! Gerade aus!
Thu Apr 22 2021
4
weird, but i kinda liked it
Thu Mar 25 2021
4
Buenos elementos electrónicos
Thu Mar 25 2021
4
de muy buen gusto el faust
Fri Apr 02 2021
4
Agradable. Música musical, melódica, de ascensor. Un poco chill out
Thu Jan 28 2021
4
Hate songs about Nazis, but this was still cool
Wed Jan 27 2021
4
Albumik nieslyszany, nieznany, nazwa bardzo odpowiednia, moznaby sie doszukiwac nawiazac do Fausta Goethego, w tym materiale, praktycznie w calosci bedacy instrumentalnymi kompozycjami, chociaz jak dla mnie to wlasnie nie instruenty, ale efekty noise nadaja mu specyficzn klimat kosmicznej muzyki, bo tak ten album zostal sklasyfikowany gatunkowo, z niemieckiego krautrock, tak tez nazywa sie otwierajacy track prawie 12 minutowy, wokalu na albumiku jest niewiele, ale zdziwienie, bo zaspiewany jest naprawde szykownym angielskim, niektore kawalki maja wrecz psychodeliczny klimat jak picnic on the frozen river, nawet nazwa wskazuje, ze srogie piguly musialy brac udzial w tworzeniu albumika, jak dla mnie swietny i orginalny material, faust dolacza do sun ra w kategorii muzyki nie z tej ziemi
Wed Mar 17 2021
4
Surprisingly enojoyable
Fri Feb 26 2021
4
I like this, but I’m trying to think how I would describe it. I would listen to this on psychedelics. Really loving when it gets more mellow.
Fri May 07 2021
4
Got to be in the right mood, enjoyed it yesterday but didn't like it so much today
Fri Jul 02 2021
4
Slightly wierd but I think I liked it
Wed Sep 01 2021
4
New band and new music for me. I'm not sure where to place this music. I enjoyed having a chance to listen to something new. "Krautrock" was a good introductory track, and there wasn't anything I dis-liked. "Giggy Smile" had some sections with saxophone that didn't quite work for me, and I would have skipped some of the background noise on "It's a Bit of a Pain". The album wasn't a clear favorite, but it was good enough that I'm curious what I might discover with a second listen.
Fri Oct 01 2021
4
Krautrock ist eine Hörlücke bei mir. Von Faust habe ich noch nicht einmal namentlich was gehört. Das klingt so überhaupt nicht nach 1973!
Fri Oct 01 2021
4
I know nothing about this band going into this album. I dig the opening track "Krautrock." That word is a genre that I also admittedly know little about, other than how a favorite band of mine, King Gizzard, is often referenced as having Krautrock influences. From what I gather reading the short blurb about the band on Spotify, these guys were pioneers of the genre and in the development of "ambient and industrial textures" in rock music. Krautrock is a 12-minute drone track ambling on and building a steady driving inertia that's only elevated once the drums finally enter eight minutes in. It's a moody gritty train ride of a song. The next track, The Sad Skinhead is a different vibe. It's a short bouncy track with a punk-like edge. The Next song Jennifer is another strange one. Two lines of lyrics repeated over seven minutes, there's a hazy vibe and wobbly bass that gives the song a foggy drunk feeling before it too transitions into a drony atmospheric wash and then a tack piano phase. Moving through this album feels like stumbling home through the industrial district after getting faded at a pub. Its hard to categorize the album as any one thing however, because for every Picnic on a Frozen River, there's a track like Giggy Smile, which skews away from the avant-garde to more of a psychedelic-pop/rock vibe, before naturally, becoming something entirely different again.
Wed Dec 22 2021
4
Another band I've heard about a lot from smart hipsters "in the know." I know they are Krautrock but I never knew they were this organic sounding. Because I associate Kraftwerk with that genre even more - or, I should say, they are my sole entry point into the genre. So, by comparison this doesn't sound like the Krautrock I know. But that's totally ok. I like the human element here. And it's truly crazy to think this was released in 1973. Given it's timing and influence, it's getting a 4 as well. And because I genuinely enjoyed listening to it. I'm like Oprah today "You get a 4! You get a 4! You get a 4!" Oh well.
Fri Jan 07 2022
4
Such a cool mix of poppy and experimental. I've always meant to give Faust a proper listen and I'm happy I have. Definitely need to seek out more of their stuff.
Fri Feb 04 2022
4
Completely experimental noise at first, but becomes a very warm and interesting listen after the first couple tracks.
Mon Feb 14 2022
4
wow, this doesn't strike me as anything that would have come from the early 70s. Way ahead of its time. I'll be checking out more Faust.
Thu Mar 24 2022
4
keep that krautrock coming! love it.
Thu Mar 24 2022
4
weird! I liked it
Fri Apr 08 2022
4
Enjoyed listening to this - very easy to listen to and interesting. Ahead of its time - had never here of them before. This kind of thing is the reason for doing the 1001 albums project.
Mon Apr 18 2022
4
Wow!! Belle découverte pour moi! Je comprends mieux d'où viennent Suuns (étant le seul band que je connais qu'on ai affublé du therme krautrock) je vais investiguer la discographie sans faute! J'ai trouvé ça définitivement pas plate, réalisation stimulante, quelques sons un peu strident qui passe moins bien au souper mais j'ai bien aimé le voyage!
Sun Apr 24 2022
4
Like some looming behemoth these tracks come, pushing all else out of its way, fascinating, beguiling, a curiosity, an influence on so many bands to follow. Commanding.
Fri May 06 2022
4
Yesterday I didn't know there was such a thing as krautrock, and today I'm a fan of krautrock. Who would have thought? Good stuff, a bit Pink Floyd-ish. 4 stars.
Fri May 27 2022
4
First track wasn't interesting enough but I liked the rest. I like psychedelic music
Fri Jun 17 2022
4
kraut! rock!
Sun Jul 10 2022
4
Bem diferente, meio experimental. Curti! Melhor música: Jennifer
Mon Jul 25 2022
4
Unexpectedly good. First track was weirdly disturbing, rest was a fine piece of art
Thu Aug 04 2022
4
A horny group of dirty spud munchers bending over in front of the mirror, fingering their bums. Touch your toes, love. Touch your toes.
Thu Aug 04 2022
4
there were a couple of points where i was just about to really enjoy this album and then it took another unexpected turn. still i think the madness of it made it quite enjoyable.
Mon Aug 08 2022
4
Pretty cool, ahead of it's time stuff here. Most of it I really liked. 4 🌟
Fri Sep 02 2022
4
Very weird and experimental, but I enjoyed it.
Mon Sep 12 2022
4
I really enjoyed this one! Weird and quirky, maybe long but I guess that's part of its charm.
Mon Sep 12 2022
4
sounds modern and exciting, must have been quite innovate in its time.
Sun Sep 18 2022
4
Pretty cool but it did just sort of wash over me
Wed Sep 28 2022
4
Really good krautrock
Fri Oct 14 2022
4
Very interesting. First time hearing krautrock
Wed Oct 26 2022
4
This was a really interesting album, it's like nothing I've ever heard before. The sound was very refreshing in that sense, but it's filled with a lot experimental sounds. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. Definitely worth the listen though!
Thu Oct 27 2022
4
Not bad
Thu Oct 27 2022
4
Excelente opção para conhecer mais do Krautrock, a primeira música é definitiva.
Thu Nov 03 2022
4
Not my favorite example of the genre, but fun enough, for sure! Fave track - "Krautrock", probably, as it was the most krautrocky. Also liked the mellowness of "Jennifer"....
Thu Nov 03 2022
4
Wow, what a journey. Krautrock had me from the getgo, The Sad Skinhead gets stuck in your smashed up faces. Giggly Smile is as catchy as all get out. But Lauft.. is the track that stole my heart.
Wed Nov 09 2022
4
A phenomenal album, an essential for any fan of prog rock, or even 1970's experimental sounds in general. This is like a mix of all types of musicians and genres, Gordon Lightfoot, early Krafwerk, and Frank Zappa all blended together with a little hint of magic mushrooms for good measure. Still holds up. 4.5/5
Wed Nov 23 2022
4
Really enjoyed iy
Wed Nov 23 2022
4
Pleasant background noise
Sun Nov 27 2022
4
RY4S
Wed Nov 30 2022
4
I appreciate the influence this album has on so many bands I love but I found it a bit to proggy for my tastes. Still giving it for stars for the songs that made an impact on me, namely the opening track, Krautrock
Mon Dec 05 2022
4
Swag
Mon Dec 05 2022
4
Being the only classic Faust album that was on streaming services for a while I’ve listened to this one quite a few times. Very cool record. Also, don’t call it krautrock
Mon Dec 05 2022
4
Chill
Fri Dec 09 2022
4
“Krautrock” is a stunning opener. Noisy (but beautiful) soundscapes that gradually shift and change over the course of nearly 12 minutes. There’s a steady pulse maintained throughout which gives the piece focus. I found it mesmerizing. “Giggy Smile” is a standout as well. The track begins with some playful psychedelic pop before shifting into a free jazz sax solo. Then it morphs into an epic jam that straddles the line between psychedelia and noise rock. There are a lot of overlapping layers in this last stretch but the music still feels playful even as it gets experimental. Incredible! Those two tracks feel like the major achievements here. The album is rounded out by a mix of experimental pop and rock and overall reminded me of The Velvet Underground at their most avant-garde. I’m very interested to hear more Faust.
Wed Dec 21 2022
4
Lovely droning guitar stuff
Wed Dec 21 2022
4
Pleasantly surprised by this, some parts jarred a bit but overall it was interesting and enjoyable. A good example of why I signed up to this project
Wed Dec 21 2022
4
Much more approachable than I thought.Nice and proggy, too. Must check out some more of the German stuff.
Wed Dec 21 2022
4
I love me a bit of noisy krautrock, and this does exactly what it says on the tin. Opening track 'Krautrock' (that's a hint, perhaps) is 12 minutes of motorik, one-chord drone-rock (in a good way). The rums don't even come in until 7 minutes in. The shorter songs are indeed more song-like, and stand up as great songs, which can be a surprise for some krautrock bands, who can stretch out of groove, but not really write a song. Really enjoyed this, and putting it on my want list to purchase. Going four stars instead of five, as this is a really great example of this genre, but not necessarily for everyone.
Wed Dec 21 2022
4
c'est tellement weird que c'Est bon ahah. autant certaines chanson sont un peu f*** all, autant d'autre ont vraiment un bon vibe, il y a quelque chose de spciale dans certaines. J'ai aimé ma découvert et je ne suis vraiment pas décu. Un 4 pour l'originalité
Fri Jan 06 2023
4
It's funny that some of the records with the most rich sense of humour come from the stereotypically stoic country of Germany. While it's a serious record in many ways, there is a lot of self-awareness through it's runtime, and in a good way. The songs are also long, but well paced and with purpose, and the blend of languages is beautiful, making it a very European album - a kind of forward-looking earnestness that came with Central Europe in the 70s. I had never gotten into this band before, but this is a good album to discover them with.
Wed Jan 11 2023
4
3/4
Mon Jan 30 2023
4
A unique experience. Some of the songs are avant garde noise, while others are catchy poppy tunes. Jennifer and Giggy Smile really stuck out to me. I love the Craut!