Reviews (page 2 of 7)
This is the kind of album that I like to see on this list: strange, innovative and ultimately influential. It's the last of the albums from the original line-up of the band, and it's a bit of a grower.
Amazing krautrock. Heard this one before and it still rocks.
the only time germans were cool
I really liked this, and had never heard the artist or the album before. Then again, it's right up my alley. I generally like Krautrock, and also prog, and this fits nicely into both genres. Cool example of the 1001 turning up something I will probably explore further, now that I'm aware of the artist.
its extremely healthy for the Soul to sit down with music so determined to conceive of The Future. a forerunner to so many things but still ultimately has a vision that by necessity no one else could have...and so kind of preserves its present despite being consciously separate from it. super vibrant and super vital but it doesnt feel like a righteous fight , it feels Effortless yk? many moments are breezy and funny, some sedate and peaceful, and almost everything else is just jawdroppingly beautiful and powerful. feels like how life should be yk
yes A+ Grooby Kraut
Rastaraaaaaaaaaaaa
I love it. very psychedelic and a bit jazzy. love the constant drone sound. overall very enjoyable. 5/5.
High quality Krautrock record. Very talented musicians playing Freeform rock has always been the best.
Just now learning that this genre is called Krautrock after having already listened to Neu! and Kraftwerk. This definitely lands in the middle, where I loved Kraftwerk while Neu! was less interesting to me. The Sad Skinhead amd Giddy Smile are awesome, while Jennifer and Just a Second drag on way too long. They still sound pretty nice however, remind me of something that would be in Twin Peaks. Really enjoyed this an learning about a new genre.
This is one of those records that was so broadly influential that it’s impact is impossible to measure. Literally, entire genres of music would not exist, if it were not for this. It sounds like the inside of my brain.
Mityczny album, audialny labirynt – momentami transowy i przestrzenny, momentami hałaśliwy i nieprzewidywalny. Peak płytka, dla takich albumów warto bawić się w tą listę. 5
This was one of those albums where I recognized a lot of songs but finally put a name to them. Fun album
myyttinen bändi. ehkä myyttisin koskaan? saksalaiset ne osaa. rehtiä kansaa rehtiä.. nyt pitää kyllä yksi asia kertoa teille kaikille: Hapankaali on kaalista maitohappokäymisen avulla valmistettava elintarvike, jota voi syödä sellaisenaan tai käyttää ruoanvalmistuksessa. Hapankaali sisältää vain vähän energiaa mutta paljon C-vitamiinia, entsyymejä, koliinia ja asetyylikoliinia. Maitohappokäymisen ja runsaskuituisuutensa vuoksi se on vatsaystävällistä. Joidenkin lähteiden mukaan hapankaali sisältää myös B12-vitamiinia, mutta tämä tieto on nykyään kiistanalainen. JA MITEN EI VOI TIETÄÄ??????? tiede taas epäonnistuu? krautrock
This is one of those records that was so broadly influential that it’s impact is impossible to measure. Literally, entire genres of music would not exist, if it were not for this. It sounds like the inside of my brain.
This was a rare treat. I loved the longer, instrumental, drone-adjacent tracks. The simpler tracks were okay, but not anywhere near as awe inspiring. There's a lot of bands I like that have obviously borrowed heavily from Faust, like Spacemen 3 for example. I also felt like some of the more space rock tracks sounded a little bit like early Hawkwind, who released in Search of Space a couple of years before this came out. Overall, it felt like four stars wasn't quite enough, so this album gets the full five stars.
Absolute klassieker. Wat een album. Tijdens mijn ‘muzikale ontdekkingstocht’ een aantal jaar geleden kwam deze ook voorbij, en heeft toen wel veranderd wat ik van muziek dacht. Ieder nummer is een parel erop, en sindsdien verliefd op krautrock.
This is correct
You can't make music like this if yoy don't believe in it. Suuuper experimental and they explore a lot of different sounds too. Not just looping! (Though there is ppenty of that too) The ending is genius, the really soft stuff after the batshit explorations of the rest of the album was so effective. Only downside is that weird sound in Just a Second which made my brain want to turn inside out
Bursting through the surface with a raw, frenzied energy, Faust IV sets out to obliterate any preconceived notions as to what German music could be. Their most accessible outing after plenty of gimmicky gags and bewildered confusion, almost every song on here can be considered a Krautrock (hehe) staple from the motorik rumble of Krautrock itself to the serene Jennifer, the time-passing Giggy Smile and the rather funny Sad Skinhead. Overall, Faust IV is a great introduction to the madness that was the first incarnation of Faust.
Krautrock legends never shy to be true to their sound. I gave serious consideration to put the song Jennifer on my wedding playlist but I talked myself out of it.
a really cool record. never have ever heard of faust before this but i was blown away by how creative i found this record. very noisey, but not offputtingly so. but it ebbs and flows, sometimes there is a lot of noise, and sometimes it subsides so that you can hear a really great 70s rock record. very neat. sounds great. i'm so glad i got to hear this one!
Ahead for its time, amazing sounds, 5 stars
This is dope
This scratched an itch I didn't know I had. The chaos at the end of Just a Second felt like it was tickling/massaging my brain.
Crazy sounds - mostly acoustic but I loved it.
"Krautrock" begins here. Not because this is first German "Rock" band or anything like that. No, the first song on this album is called "Krautrock"; Julian Cope named his legendary mixtape/CD/vinyl of German Psychedelic-Progressive music, and, the intrinsic critical boner in those days was to coin a genre, even if it was specious and utter bullshit (see Grunge; see New Wave), and so, the term stuck. 1971 was kinda the rebranding year for psychedelic music into Progressive Rock. In the mid 60s, progressive rock was the tag on the emerging album artists, or people who were considered very far out. The Velvet Underground. The Mothers. The Fugs. Jefferson Starplane. Jerry Bear and his Merry Bearsters. The West Coast got re-branded as Acid Rock. The East Coast as Art Rock. Sometimes, correctly, all were considered "psychedelic", which is phenomenologically true if it's ever been personally, pharmakologically true, as is everything in compass between (Stooges, Funkadelic, MC5, 13th Floors, *gasp* Alice Cooper Group--I dare you. Remember: I like to be disturbed). Over yonder, a similar process occurred. Basically, it was Barrett Pink Floyd and Soft Machine pushing the far out, the former proceeding to space, and the latter, strange pastoral vibrations. These, of course, are not absolute statements. From this, Hawkwind went full sci-fi; Yes and ELP went orchestral. The latter would keep the "Progressive" label--showy virtuosity, songs with movements, lyrics about whatever the fuck they were going on about. Hawkwind became "Space Rock". Pink Floyd transcended to cinematic. And naturally, between, disturbance in the form of the Deviants, the Pink Faeries, and various incarnations of what would become heavy metal. Unto to itself in this constructed psychedelic duopoly, the freakiest shit in England was not space but not pastroral, virtuosic but not showy, all angular damage: King Crimson. Weird ramalama, poetic lyrics, feedback and ray-gun sound effects, good on and off drugs, existing as a giant "fuck you" to rampantly enforced nice. Crimson were not nice. We freaks thank you And, in Germany, they took these basic English tools and set about crafting the shit crazier than Crimson. What happens when the pharmakon creeps into a counter-culture that previously did not exist because actual NAZIS ran your country, and any historical Counter-Culture touchstones had been gassed out of existence? You have to start making shit up, that's what. And the German bands looked west, grabbed the good stuff, and decided, well, to be German. Can Tago Mago, which I endorsed as truly Freaky shit is one example, grabbing the VU and electric Miles Davis to create music funky enough to move to, if you don't need to be hand held into Dead Patchouli Spun Torpor. These psychedelic freaks are both like Can and definitely not like Can: The Beatles are in the entree on "Just a Second" and "Giggy Smile". Paul Walrus "Ob bla Di" echoes through the "Sad Skinhead" if Paul had been more serious about drugs and reggae, and if the lyric was about meatheaded bootboys. Donovan vibrations animate "Jennifer" if Donovan was more serious about drugs and into the VU. Bowie and Eno learned a lot here. The titular opus, birthing a genre title, "Krautrock" is trip--imagine a Barrett Floyd/VU mutant, pulsating to proto-motorik, attempting to move like machine,but still sentient minimal: Interstellar Cyborg Sister Ray. Simply Saucer would achieve little success but my undying loyalty, doing some serious Stooges damage on this idea a few years later on planet Canada. This and "Lauft" are the most Can like,weird, art projects but still more tuneful, less primeval. Epic shit. Full stop. If this critical exposition is still murky, I probably lost you at the Dead snark. If that wasn't the problem, I would suggest looking at the admirers: Bowie. Eno. Hawkwind. PiL. Bauhaus. John Cale. Julian Cope, who compiled the sampler, obviously. Killing Joke. All Industrial artists. EDM has some of this DNA. If you want noodly virtuosity, a la ELP, go elsewhere. Brass tacks: If you consider pre- Ambient Eno psychedelic, this is for you.
What is wrong with people? This is seriously good stuff- I can listen to this all day. It's very prog-like, repetitive, rocky too in places and hypnotic. These Germans are the synth-kings.....
Outstanding soundtrack for today's run through dappled woodland trails
This album is a love note to ADHD. Krautrock starts off being repetitive almost to the point of distraction... But then isn't. As a hyperactive child, I can imagine that this album would captivate me. From here on out, the album dances through genres and themes without a care, grappling the next distraction before it has even gotten halfway through the previous. If it does circle back (I'd have to listen again to check!) then it does so with a cursory nod, before darting off somewhere else again. I really enjoyed it as a far from hyperactive fortysomething.
Incredible, so many good tracks and the instrumental weirdness is awesome
I went into this one not expecting to enjoy it, however it was such a vibe! Need to check out the deluxe edition now as I just did the regular. Kept pulling me back in with a surprising beat or switch up mid song and kept my attention start to finish.
One of the quintessential Krautrock albums, and not a bad introduction to the genre for the uninitiated. It sits somewhere between the structured arrangements of someone like Cluster and the more jam oriented Amon Düül. Rightfully a classic.
Another fantastic kraut rock album by Faust and it even has the song Krautrock on it. The first songs are more drone rhythm founded and the second half of the album consists of more traditional rock songs.
I'm very familiar with their first album becuase it's one of the most insane and weird albums i've ever heard, and an easy 10/10 for me. Clearly I've been sleeping on this one though, despite hearing it a couple times in the past. The huge opening track is amazing, sucks you in with it's repetition. Then the rest follows suit, some wild stuff going on.
Ambient tech rock Oddly charming noise music Whimsical clanging
Very compelling. I'm almost overwhelmed. A+
This is a very strange listen… but I was fascinated. I enjoyed the wild ride. Bravo!
I wouldn’t blame anyone for hearing the name krautrock and immediately passing it off as something silly. Because it’s a silly name, and definitely warrants that reaction. I’ve only brought the genre up once in a conversation with someone before, and they laughed at the name. But all things considered, I have very little experience with it. Dots and Loops by Stereolab is one of my favorite albums ever, but that is less based in krautrock and more inspired by its central ideas. Really, Faust IV is the most defining album of the genre. And its titular opening track is sort of what pushed the genre to have its namesake. Just by putting that song on, it is made clear that this album is weird. I could see the experimental mixture of hypnotic rock music and avant garde electronics being off putting to most. If I had heard this maybe 6 months ago I might not have liked it very much. But I can’t help how creative that weirdness sounds, and how revolutionary this feels. This is experimental in all of the ways that experimental music is meant to be. And for a record released in the early 70s, this was pushing boundaries on a whole other level. This feels like the 20th century equivalent to Velocity : Design : Comfort by Sweet Trip. Two albums that could come out today, and still be praised for how futuristic and unique they are. This is one of those one of a kind records that makes me want to hear every other piece of krautrock ever made, just in case something manages to blow me away as much as this did. There were many moments of sheer joy, where all I could was smile and just laugh at how ridiculously good this is. This is valuable not only as an album, but as a listening experience for people who aren’t well versed in this kind of sound. Rating: 9/10
This is what I live for, or, this is the realm of musical sounds that brought me to a higher realm of living life. I love krautrock! I began as a prog rock kid, and then after listening to Kraftwerk, and later Can, I just dove head first into as much krautrock as I could access. This is better listening to me than punk, or new wave. No question, this earns 5+ stars from me.
Das Krautrock. Wide variety of songs
Krautrock is such a fascinating genre and this album is one of the classics. This album is rock heavy as opposed to other more electronic based Krautrock records though there is plenty of synth based sounds here. The songs are exploratory and take time to develop which is something I really enjoy. There are moments here which almost sound like jazz-rock fusion to me (Giggy Smile), and others more purely experimental that are more noise based. I haven't listed to other albums by Faust, but apparently this is one of their most accessible.
Great forward thinking kraut rock that is way ahead of the curve of what Bowie and eno would do later on in the decade.
A second listen of this album in the right mood and headspace opened my eyes to the hypnotic soundscapes that Faust creates. On a few songs you can feel the comfort of the main riffs while the accompanying cacophony rises and falls, which I thought was an interesting and effective way to convey an abstract concept through instrumentation alone.
Absolutely KILLER. More of these discoveries, please.
Not sure I understand what I'm getting here, but I think I like it. And I think it works as an album. Might try to look up earlier albums if I remember.
That's how the experimental music should sound like! Very good sound.
Loved it since I came across it in the 80s. Wildly experimental Krautrock pioneers. This is my personal favourite.
nice
Faust do seem to be on the weirder side of krautrock, most of this isn't what I'd consider 'traditional' krautrock, whatever that means, being as it is one of the most interesting, experimental and diverse genres in all of music. It's an incredible mine for early electronica and simply for ideas in general just thrown out there. The fantastic, signature, driving motorik beat is mostly absent here for example. I've only listened to their debut before and that was a mix of banging stuff (as in literally banging stuff together) mixed in with the sound of objects floating in water (although I might be confusing it with a track on Neu!'s debut). Much more of an emphasis on weird noises than on this album. I read later that Faust IV is considered a more accessible set from the band, which definitely appears to be true. Does raise a little wry smile seeing the people in the reviews dismissing the entirety of krautrock on the strengths of this one album. But hey ho. They don't seem to be a band who stick with one idea. Which is incredible and I applaud it. I can mostly skip the second track, but I love the development going on in 1 and 3 and elsewhere. Most of the time now I want to listen to stuff where I have no idea what's going to happen next. I know the second CD was different versions of the same songs, but I left it on, because they were very different!
I've only gotten into Kraut rock in the last few years. I really dig it. The motorik beats and the droning is something that appeals to me. Faust is excellent.
I've never heard of this album before today. This is excellent. Thanks for the recommendation.
I love how timeless this feels, it swings between noodling to almost delving into pop ballads and seems wholly comfortable with itself. Foreshadows alot like Radio Head and Ledgendary Pink Dots yet feels outside of genre. Its a great album.
Dit vind ik heerlijk. Een soort van kale, desolate maar toch enigszins hoopvolle, dromerige, soms warme, oude rock. Geen ijskoude ruimtetaferelen zoals bij die Tangerine Dream van laatst. Met vlagen wat manisch, maar dat maakt het ook wel weer spannend. "Jennifer" is bijvoorbeeld een prachtige track. Bizar genoeg kende ik 'The Sad Skinhead' en 'Lauft... Heisst Das Es Lauft Oder Es Kommt Bald..Lauft' en 'Giggy Smile' al. Ik heb alleen geen idee waarvan en dat vind ik moeilijk te verkroppen. 5 sterren. Leuk!
Probably the most accessible Faust's LP. Brian Eno perhaps got inspiration from this to create Ambient. Fav Track: Krautrock
Genial.
That opening track! Good lord. That's on my chill playlist immediately.
Jawohl! Gerade aus!
Wow. I had heard some Faust but didn't really know what they were all about.
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.
banger, perfekt blandning av konstiga grejer och trevligt att lyssna på
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.
This album immediately engaged me and I loved it. So diverse and special.
No notes
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).
It seems to be the album that modern arthouse rock albums are based off of. And it is considerably better than its imitators
Muito detalhado, inspirador.
classic
Progressive German Synth Rock . Impressive and want to hear more of Faust .
Not my first time hearing it and I freaking love this record
Краут шо Надо
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.
This had many interesting styles and constructs. I would have enjoyed discovering it earlier in life!
Good stuff!
I can't get enough of this one, so good!
Kraut nicht sauer
Jennifer was my favorite from this album, shout out to krautrock as well
Väldigt konstigt, men konstig musik som är ish instrumental är jag ju väldigt svag för. Det är allt jag har att säga för att validera mitt betyg.
-certified krautrock banger. i’ve heard this album a few times but appreciated it the most during this listen. Faust have such incredible and recognizable instrumentation especially considering this was made in 1973?? -hugely impactful on ambient music and lots of alternative rock, 100% deserving of a spot here and very good -Favorites: The Sad Skinhead, Jennifer, Giggy Smile
Yet another album where I have no idea what the genre could be. In my defence, this album name/cover isn't really giving me a whole lot to work with. I think the only thing it could be is a minimalistic, early electronic album (assuming Faust is actually a German band). The German albums I've listened to thus far have been pretty wacked out and ahead of their time, so I think my theory tracks. If not, then I think American boomer rock is my second best guess given the album's naming convention and year of release. Anyways, I'm going with electronic. Here goes. Ah, krautrock. I should have known, though I'm content with being partially correct. I liked this. I really liked this, actually! Krautrock has proven to be a bit of an unlikely success story, as I'm also very favourable to "Trans-Europe Express" from Kraftwerk. I suspect that the opening track of this album has pushed a lot of people away thanks to its static, unflinching melody and unruly runtime, though the album becomes fantastic shortly afterwards. A "cosmic" sound is something that I've always been favourable towards in music, with this album absolutely nailing the aesthetic. Faust IV has such an undeniably cool, sleek and atmospheric style thanks to its effective use of space - notably between the muffled percussion, delicate pianos, vintage synths, warm acoustic guitars along with the miscellaneous instruments that linger in the background. The result is an album that feels decidedly 3D, regardless of how abstract that expression may seem. I have one of those crazy psychedelic visualisers running through my mind whenever I'm listening to this music - it's that visceral to me. I almost immediately picked up on where this band have been influential. Songs like "Jennifer" sound remarkably similar to that of "Hot Shots II" from The Beta Band along with much of the Radiohead material that came from the Kid A/Amnesiac sessions. Both of those things are my absolute shit, so the album earns massive cred there. Overall, great album. I look forward to putting this one on the future. Book time. Krautrock was originally a pejorative title, being coined by the British press in response to the increasing number of German bands that were getting signed by British labels. Faust were a collective of 5 leftist university students and Uwe Nettelbeck, a music journalist-turned producer. Their previous album - The Faust Tapes - released when krautrock had fallen into a commercial slump, with successive acts failing to measure up in success to their forebears. Despite this, The Faust Tapes was an unlikely success in the UK, where it sold over 60,000 copies thanks to a marketing ploy from Virgin, where the album was retailed at the price of a single. Despite being set up for success with the exposure from their previous release, Faust IV was a tragic failure. However, it's now widely considered to be Faust's finest hour and a krautrock classic. I'd be in this album's corner if it had nothing going for it, though it seems to be in here on good authority. I cosign this inclusion.
Faust IV stars
I love krautrock and this is no different. Odd textures, hypnotic grooves, creative rhythms, all adds up to a fascinating listening experience. Not for everyone, but it's really my vibe.
83/100. No single path dominates the landscape. Trails appear, disappear, and reconnect, each one inviting a different way forward. Listening to it today, it's easy to forget this was released in the early 70s. So many of the ideas that would later appear in post-punk, experimental rock, electronic music, and alternative music seem to be lurking somewhere inside these tracks. The entire band is firing on all cylinders here. The instrumentation feels incredibly free, as though the songs are allowed to develop wherever curiosity takes them. It revolves around hypnotic repetition. Yet despite relying on recurring grooves and patterns, it never feels static. The music constantly shifts in subtle ways, introducing new textures and ideas that keeps you engaged. That balance is what makes the record so fascinating. It can sound mechanical and repetitive one moment, then strangely human and spontaneous the next. Adventurous without losing its sense of groove.
Very diverse sound for a Krautrock album. Cool stuff.
4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/faust/faust-iv/ Krautrock highlight! That's not saying much, since my knowledge of the genre is minimal, but I really dig this! Also hearing some slowcore influences in this (in that this influenced slowcore), which is cool.
i LOVE when you listen to something and you just know they were trippin balls when they made it
I thought this was pretty damn cool, and made for great work background noise.
Really enjoyed this. Will come back to it again
Really interesting style of music!! Had never heard
This was weird and interesting and I kinda liked it! I must go back and listen to it again but first impressions was that it's damn good
Ambient electronica with lyrics that sound like the Kinks would sound if they were German. It is … not at all bad (!)(?)(!). I enjoyed some of the free-form experimentation because it’s built on a musical platform. This band was obviously very influential— I hear Kinks, Procul Harem, Velvet Underground & the Grateful Dead among others. Ambient electronica is not my usual taste in music, but it earns a 4. #Impressed.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect but with my plane sat waiting for a takeoff slot, I managed to squeeze in the whole album before I had to descend into flight mode, allowing me a focused listen of what proved very pleasing to my ears. It doesn’t seem to get good reviews on the whole which surprises me slightly, and it scores lower than it ought to.
this is my kind if experimental music with ghost tendrils of pop. give me krautock. or give me death. or more krautrock. i want the noise and the almost singing and the noise again. dudes in the 1970s going out on a limb to make art. yeehaw.
I enjoyed how cinematic this album is. I always thought Faust was early metal, but I am very pleasantly surprised that this is electronic krautrock that is not perfect but has some really amazing tracks, especially for the time. I do wish they would have stuck with the one genre instead of having the sillier lyrical songs, but those do speak to the time and I can still understand why people would appreciate them. I'd give this a 4.5, but I'm going to round down to a 4, because I do feel like it is not cohesive enough for me to make it a 5.
Funkadelic extraordinaire. Too long. exquisite
Well considering it’s my last name I feel like it’s at least 4 stars. Ok music, out there, kinda interesting, still listenable.
This opened my eyes to the postwar mentality in Germany, particularly the desire to shun both the nazi past and American influence. Also to see the dada and punk collective influences.
I thought this would be completely inaccessible so was pleasantly surprised when I liked it! Prog rock and its ilk are growing on me potentially ……
Best cool
I listened to this album as I worked a few more hours at our old location, passing the time on this final shift by working on an AEW Championship statistics project. I had no idea what to expect going into Faust IV; I had some expectation of a math rock-type vibe, but what I got was much more of a pleasant surprise. These songs featured a consistently driving rhythm with glitchy distortions and screeches to give it texture, managing to stay compelling throughout these entire minutes-long buildups. The vocals have a light and goofy energy to them (which might just be on account of the accent), but it adds to the vibe of the album. I had no exposure to krautrock prior to this album, but I was delighted to find that it is apparently a glitchier and more distorted cousin to prog rock. Amidst the more traditional guitars and electronic distortions, I started hearing what sounded something like a xylophone, which again, only made this album feel even lighter and more fun, with plunky keys and guitar strums keeping the energy upbeat. Faust did a wonderful job at creating a gorgeous atmosphere which I simply wanted to stay within for a little while longer. Highlights: Krautrock, The Sad Skinhead, Giggy Smile, Lauft...Heisst Das Es Lauft Oder Es Kommt Bald..Lauft, It's A Bit Of A Pain
oscillates between riding a great gleaming slipstream towards a kind of awe-inspiring, Old Testament beauty and being very very funny. just great! can't wait to dive into this band's catalogue
Enjoyed this one. You know I’m gonna be eating anything featuring a saxophone highly
It was hard to believe this record was made in 73. It sounded so modern to me. It dips into some unique sounds, sometimes too far for me. Some songs sounded very Zappa. Overall a solid listen. 7/10
How cool was this album!? Mom had never heard of krautrock before! What a pleb! This seriously vibed with both us us!
Weird and experimental and I loved it.
I expected something more heavy metal, so I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I didn't realize I had enabled album repeat and ended up listening for 2 hours.
Faust IV gets a IV.
En ehtinyt kuunnella kunnolla, pitää ottaa uudelleen kuunteluun. Nopeasti vaikuttaa hyvältä. 3,5/5.
Enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. I've discovered that I can actually enjoy experimental music if they maintain some sort of rhythm that prevents it from becoming totally untethered. Each song feels like it comes from a different album, but Faust IV's drone-ish, industrial sound maintains a strong presence in each song.
More accessible than some experimental albums. Really good at hitting a groove. Took me places.
An intriguing cover and an intriguing album. What more could you want?
Kivoja saundeja ja joskus sähkökitaroitakin
There is something exhilarating about listening to an album and being truly unsure what you're going to hear next. For something this scattershot, it's a given that not everything works, but so much of it does - the drone brilliance of the opener "Krautrock," the back half of "Giggy Smile" (which redeems the front half), the Cat Stevensesque launchpad provided by "It's a Bit of a Pain." I undertook this project for the purpose of finding albums like this.
early samplings of the krautrock genre. very experimental, spacey, droning... a weird futuristic sound all by itself. today is one of those days where i feel like stuck in limbo. between one world and the next. and i guess this album really soothed me based on my weird tired emotions today. i like the weird synths. it's a controversial album on this platform it seems, but i fuck with what it's throwing at me.
This is a weird album to rate, simply because I dont think I would listen to any of the songs individually again (except for Jennifer), but I would certainly listen to the album again. Experimental in all the ways that I enjoyed, it goes through multiple genres to try and capture a feeling I cannot quite describe. This is definitely not an album for everyone, but if you're into experimental rock it is certainly for you.
This was definitely not the vibe for the gym. But once I was in the right environment to listen, I really enjoyed it. Krautrock - a couple songs (namely, Jennifer) reminded me a bit of Can. Best song: Picnic on a Frozen River. I'll give it a 3.75
Tangerine Dream with a sense of humor. Nice.
I love most kosmische music including this
Super cool and unique album, quirky instrumentals, and catchy songs too. Fav track is sad skinhead
Wow Krautrock is so interesting, very excited to do a full deep dive when I have time. It really twists and turns all the way through. The repetitive grooves are always fun. Can is still my favorite of the genre and would be surprised if anyone displaces them but this stands firmly beside them. Rating: 4.3
III.VI
What a find! A German prog/post/psych rock band that sounds like a King Gizzy jam session? Awesome!
Otro grupo tan desconocido como fundamental, tanto Neu! como Faust son dos de las bandas de las que tienes que escuchar algo (también de Can, Tangerine Dream y Kaftwerk). La portada nos indica que estamos ante algo diferente, artístico, con mucho nivel. Tanto este cuarto como sus precedentes merecen ser escuchados. Faust se asocia a vanguardia, expresionismo, electrónica, ambient, industrial, dadaísmo, música concreta... Motorik. Ya solo por el tema inicial, Krautrock, merece la pena. The Sad Skinhead es juguetona como Giggy Smile que tiene encaje entre King Crimson, Pink Floyd y todo el progresive, pero queda mejor en el universo de Frank Zappa. Just a Second / Picnic on a Frozen River, Deuxieme Tableau es más interesante. Jennifer es un viaje alucinante. Läuft...Heißt Das Es Läuft Oder Es Kommt Bald…Läuft ("Psalter" section) (Está corriendo...¿Eso significa que está corriendo o que llegará pronto...? Está corriendo (sección "Salterio")) es mucho más reposada. Läuft... Heißt das es läuft oder es kommt bald... Läuft (Está funcionando... ¿Eso significa que está funcionando o que llegará pronto...? Está funcionando) lo es aún más. It's a Bit of a Pain, otro relajado tema (que podría haber firmado Robert Wyatt o un Kevin Ayers pasado de rosca) cierra este genial álbum. Spacemen 3 les deben mucho, pero también OMD o cualquier banda que use sintes, y por supuesto Radiohead.
I have developed a soft spot for kraut rock Will I listen to again: 80%
Actually enjoyable-totally psychedelic, a bit beta band, a bit Hendrix, a bit country Joe and the fish, loads of chaotic 60s/70s realness It’s a 4 because some bits did get a bit to full on
Damn I guess I love Krautrock even more than I thought I did! They've got drone down. And repetitive. That this was 1973 makes it even more remarkable. It explores many avenues, taking many turns, sometimes just sitting and idling, windows down, radio up.
This hit just right. The dreamy electronic elements feel contemporary yet knowing that it's 1970s West Germany...it all felt echt geil. Bravo
The term Krautrock was a snooty and dismissive expression coined by the British music press who didn’t like the idea of German bands coming over here and playing rock, instead of proper British bands playing pop - if only there was a term for that, eh? Anyhoo, Faust hit back with the first track on this album, an 11 minute epic called Krautrock that does exactly what it says on the tin. Metronomic motorik beats, temperamental analogue synths, weird electronic glitches and fuzzed out guitars all turned up to 11. Wunderbar! The other tracks on this album are of slightly more variable quality, ranging from bizarre songs to short, experimental pieces, but generally all worth a listen even if only to say “what the heck was that supposed to be?”. I’d still choose krautrock over yet another boring yacht rock album any day though. Kraut-tastic!
How do I find it? I deliberately didn't look into the reviews to not taint my own judgement. But man this one is hard. There are beautiful moments, e.g. "Es läuft" or "Piano Piece" (when the drums kick in). I like the jokes they put in (blowing nose in Sad Skinhead). But then I hate that they tear down the song whenever it gained momentum (Giggy Smile). I see how that Radioheads Kid A and following wouldn't have happened if it was not down to Krautrock and Faust. But would I listen to it again? Just because it's artsy doesn't mean it's enjoyable.
Suuuuper interesting album!! Really enjoyed listening to it. Quite different but I liked all the beats + compositions. Saved a few songs too!!
Very much my kind of bullshit.
Just a little too much noise to get a 5.
Ok, this was interesting. Krautrock hooked me in, this was an unexpectedly engaging drony introduction to an altogether decent prog rock album. I wasn't the hugest fan of the vocal delivery, but the use of electronic instruments and clear studio experimentation more than made up for it. Good stuff; will check out more Faust.
This was a big surprise. Really enjoyed it
Crazy vibes but I kinda love it?
First krautrock experience. Very interesting. I really liked it. It's nice to learn and discover different things.
Strong 4, want to give 5, listened twice and keep droning out… then forgetting whether it’s great or just good. Will listen again.
first listen awesome
Surprisingly interesting. Will defo listen more
loved all the drone instrumental parts
An interesting an quirky experimental/Krautrock album
Surprised at how much I enjoyed this
This is an experimental almost to a fault, I really enjoyed it, but I could see why it is so divisive. It really sounds to me like it was just a bunch of people having a bloody good time making weird music.
Really like the experimental sound of this one. Although with Krautrock in general, I often feel like I respect it rather than actively enjoy it. I can see why it was so influential, but it's not super engaging, a bit like Neu! Last time I listened to this one I crashed my car into a discarded xmas tree that had been left in the middle of a very dark road. Only saw it at the last minute. So I'll probably associate this album with that fun memory from now on. Jennifer is probably my favourite track, love the space travel vibes!
the German take on prog rock became known in the English-language music press, somewhat derisively, as krautrock. Faust said, "you want krautrock? we'll give it to ya," and released a song literally called "Krautrock". it's kind of a power move! I'm a pretty big fan of the albums Can was releasing around the same time as this, but this was my first proper full-album Faust experience. as compared to their colleagues in the British Isles or on the American continent, German bands like Faust placed a lot more emphasis on timbre and avant-garde sound experiments; it certainly sets them apart, but their albums can often feel a bit piecemeal as a result. apart from the stunning 12-minute drone piece "Krautrock" I mentioned before, you've got shorter, pop-adjacent pieces like "The Sad Skinhead" or "It's a Bit of a Pain" and longer, improvisational works like "Jennifer" and "Giggy Smile". I enjoy quite a few of these songs, but they don't often feel like they have very much to do with one another. I can definitely appreciate the fact that the band runs through such a wide gamut of sounds, though! I could easily see this smorgasbord approach to structuring an album panning out better, so I'll have to go digging through the rest of Faust's albums to see if they can nail it! this was the final album they released in their original incarnation before literally disappearing for several years, so I guess it'd be best to go backwards. decent 8/10.
Interesting. Kind of Psychedelic rock
This album features some of Faust’s more avant-garde, experimental tracks, leaning into unconventional instrumentation and freeform structures, as well as meditative pieces driven by hypnotic rhythms. On the other hand, tracks like “The Sad Skinhead” and “Giggy Smile” have a more melodic, playful, and quirky tone to the mix. It’s definitely a must-hear for anyone interested in experimental music.
I will not include the bonus tracks from the deluxe edition in this review. I hadn't heard of Faust before, but as soon as I saw that they were another krautrock band, certain expectations came to my mind. I already listened to the likes of Kraftwerk, Can, and NEU! on my album journey thus far, so naturally, I imagined these gentlemen would have performed in a similar vein. Though a little more reading revealed that Faust's work revolved around controlled dissonance, improvisation, and experimental electronic approaches. As such, they are often cited as influential on the ambient and industrial genres. This fourth album of theirs would prove to be the last of the original lineup, as their label dropped them shortly afterwards, leading to the initial disbandment. With all that said, what did we get on Faust IV? Well, it's certainly German experimental rock without much in the way of cohesion to tie these tracks together. There's the persistent feeling of being pushed from one sonic palette to the next. Starting with the hypnotic guitar-drone of the opener "Krautrock", disrupted by the holler over the borderline-ska thumping rollick of "The Sad Skinhead", giving way to the mellow haze with supple bass on "Jennifer". Just as things felt safe and serene, the listener comes crashing back down to Earth with the blaring, dissonant guitar wails over a stomping groove on "Just a Second" that quickly evaporates into field recordings and chopped-up synthesizers on "Picnic on a Frozen River", before the ensuing chaos is swallowed in a cavalcade of guitar and organ noise on "Deuxieme Tableaux", all in one 3-minute medley mind you. Then, just as you start getting into a pocket with the maniacal sax-led jazz rock groove of "Giggy Smile", the whole rhythm abruptly stops with the in-studio banter that opens "Läuft...Heisst Das Es Läuft Oder Es Kommt Bald....Läuft" which offers a different cadence with its repeating acoustic guitar line over sharp organ key swipes. But even that pleasant cadence doesn't last, as the mechanical winding of gears wipes the slate clean, and then the music rebuilds itself over a lowly synth and organ harmonic melody. The end is finally signaled with the occasional blaring noise over the simple acoustic tune of "It's a Bit of a Pain", leaving me in awe at the controlled madness I just listened to. There's no rhyme or reason why this album is structured this way, and maybe that's the point. As for whatever spare lyrics there were, they could be largely chalked up to provocative imagery that's played up for laughs, such as the burning red hair in "Jennifer", the ironic lifestyle of "The Sad Skinhead", and the observations on body hair at the end of "It's a Bit of a Pain". There's no deeper meaning to any of this, and that's probably for the best. They're an experimental band that's down for having a good laugh, and not trying to go up their own ass, which I can respect. For what it's worth, Faust IV is an intriguing slice of German experimental rock that felt fresh and engaging. Perhaps not every attempt made on this record was successful, but there's a beauty in being daring enough to try.
I've never heard this before and was blown away -- how did I miss it. This is what I came here for!
I enjoyed this album. Psychedelic but not overwrought or abrasive, experimental but not demanding.
Been a very long time since I last heard this, so I was due for a revisit. Turns out it’s still great!
Surprising. It's more experimental than rock. 3,6
8.5 / 10
This makes me imagine the aquatic life in the Gulf Stream, with different fish, turtles, plankton, sharks, and more, journeying northward. Each creating its own personal clicks, creaks, and croaks in varying patterns along its hectic, swirling path...maybe a lone, maybe in a school, or with a mate. All I know is they are in it now and traveling under the waves.
Some interesting sounds for sure
Rating: 9/10 Another day, another 70's experimental German rock album on 1001albumsgenerator.com. Faust was absolutely cooking here. As a fan of droning and vibey metal and rock these guys are some of the pioneers. Krautrock is absolutely massive, Jennifer must have defied all classification when it was first released. They also get a little silly with it, like on Giggy Smile (great track). Also these Krautrock albums never overstay their welcome, they always just deliver 45 minutes of great psych jams.
Weird but cool 3.5 but I'll round up
The Good: We have a fist! The Bad: 4 fists might be a little difficult to handle… The Ugly: The one german actually taking the 4 fists… Okay, the above is a little sick… and I should apologize. However, I am trying to play catch up on ranking albums which I needed to listen to for an additional time or two, and this one’s been hanging out for a month now… I’ve never understood what krautrock is all about, nor what it actually entails, as most of the krautrock albums I’ve listened to during this journey are all different. During the first spin I did not like it. During the second spin I really like it. During the third spin I had no idea what I was listening to… Maybe that is the trick to krautrock? Anyway, though the songs last too long, I know that I really enjoyed this album as background music while working on some excel… so 4* so that I don’t forget about it.
Never heard of these guys and wasn't sure what to expect after that nearly 12 minute opener of straight up noise, almost like controlled chaos. What followed was actually a delightful collection of songs with mix of sharp angular guitars, flowing instrumentals, weird experimental sounds, simple but driving beats. Actually really enjoyed the album by the end of it!
This album features some of Faust’s more avant-garde, experimental tracks, leaning into unconventional instrumentation and freeform structures, as well as meditative pieces driven by hypnotic rhythms. On the other hand, tracks like “The Sad Skinhead” and “Giggy Smile” have a more melodic, playful, and quirky tone to the mix. It’s definitely a must-hear for anyone interested in experimental music.
One thing I'm learning from this project is that I have unexpectedly high tolerance levels for 1970s experimental electronic music. I've already discovered I like Brian Eno and Suicide, and it turns out I like Faust too. I'm now intrigued for what other krautrock may be coming my way, as it's a genre I'd always been a bit daunted by.
Excellent stuff, some of krautrocks finest left field offerings, a big tick.
Gear: SIMGOT EA1000 Fermat Artwork: 🏢📁🔶 Production: 👂🧈🔎 Music: 🔄🍄🟫🌀 Rating: 🐩🐩🐩🐩(🐩)5
I expected the interminable (if influential) beep-boops of Kraftwerk and was relieved when I heard a real hi-hat in the background. Don't get me wrong, there are beeps and boops and some weirdness. The end of 'Just A Second' devolves into semi-coherent noise. It's kind of fun, though -- it asks us when the song ceases to be melodically and rhythmically organized. Overall, I get why this is included in The List. It's neither haughty prog nor straightforward blues rock. It's very German. It's also quite lovely at times. All together, it's a nice album and an interesting snapshot of a scene (70's West German krautrock) that I knew nothing about. I think it's likely that an avid pilgrim on the journey through The List will enjoy this and hear its echoes in other work. Reminds me of Sigur Ros and Godspeed You! Black Emperor in a very pleasant way. 4/5
So very yes
Who dis? Beat expectations
Very fun to listen to! And all over there place with genres.
This was a really interesting listen and great for work time. I will definitely listen again.
4/5
This grew on me as I listened. It’s like a German Pink Floyd (early Floyd rather than DSOTM onwards Floyd). I liked it, instruments were cool and though I couldn’t understand them, I liked the vocals when they were there.
I'd have to listen to it a bit more, but I'm feeling like a risky 4 for Faust IV. Not that I feel like it was anything great, but it was experimentative and pleasant
The more I listen to Kraut Rock, the more I dig it. Very influential. A bit weird at times but a good weird.
++: Krautrock, The Sad Skinhead, Giggy Smile / Picnic on a Frozen River, Deuxieme Tableau, Läuft...Heisst Das Es Läuft Oder Es Kommt Bald...Läuft, Run, It's a Bit of a Pain +: Jennifer, Just a Second 8,8/10
What a treat. A krautrock experimental ambiant album. Never gets boring. A hidden gem
Yeah that was a solid to high 4 for me, will be returning to this one a lot - missed out on a 5 because I didn’t like the more silly elements - I like my psych strange but not quite silly!
Well these guys came out of the gate strong on Faust IV and told us this is Kraut from the get go . Spacey and fantastic stuff here that will surely go under appreciated by the 1001 crowd who yearn for more basic bullshit. 4 stars
Bonus point for Sad Skinhead but great album overall
It always amazes just how influential and ahead of their time these early 70s krautrock albums are. I love the atmospherics on this album, but it also uses progressive song structures and does nothing but take chance after chance - which I love. 4.0/5.0: Great
what a weird album. kinda reminded me of talking heads at some points. im not sure how much id listen to it again but there was so much variation it kept me engaged the entire time which is more than i can say for the majority of albums on here.
As much as I love Krautrock, I never quite got into Faust. CAN seemed to set the template for a new kind of rock music, Neu! worked with drones, Tangerine Dream championed ambient electronics, and Kraftwerk fully embraced synthesizers at the willing expense of their humanness. But I just never knew what to make of Faust. It's perhaps more avant-garde than some of their contemporaries, embracing bits and pieces of other Krautrock styles and a lot of musique concrete. It feels less focused and maybe a bit less memorable overall. But giving it a real chance here, there are some gems. "Jennifer" in particular is an amazing song and a clear highlight. It sounds like it may have inspired a lot of the early shoegaze bands. The layer sampling and tape loops may have been too much for all but the most dedicated Krautrock fans, as Faust aren't remembered quite as fondly as the others and they broke up after this album. All despite counting Richard Branson as a fan. Having said all of this, it makes for a great deep dive into the genre.
going places, smashing faces
it's giving nirvana
I enjoyed this album much more than I expected. So layered and unique. Felt the mix of both the 60's and the 70's with this album.
The weirdos of an already weird genre, I’m all here for Faust’s eccentric brand of krautrock. Love this record. 8/10 Favorite tracks-“ The Sad Skinhead” “Jennifer” “Giggly Smile”
dosta dobro!
a welcome introduction to kraut
3.5/5
Not so experimental that it isn't accessible, some great drone instrumentals and cool "typical" songs. It is a great Krautrock album
I can't say I fully understand what "Krautrock" is as a genre other than experimental psych-rock produced in Germany, but maybe that is the point. I do thank Faust for trying to help with the definition by naming their intro track after the genre. If this tells me anything it is that Krautrock is without explicit form. This song is largely droning with distorted guitars wandering under a repetitive bassline and some static-y synths. Drums punch through after 7 minutes of wandering and give a brief sense of direction, but ultimately this is an atmospheric jam that fades out just as it came. In fact few songs on here adhere to any traditional song structures. The only exceptions being The Sad Skinhead, which is an abrupt change of pace into something that sounds a lot like Zappa, and (if you squint) It's A Bit of A Pain. My favorites on here are Jennifer and Giggy Smile. The former is a wonderfully spacey track built around a rippling bass refrain with little bits of static electricity sounds crashing through and distant, confined sounding vocals. The latter is just a solid jam with fun guitar and synth interplay. Just A Second feels a bit like Velvet Underground or something. And Lauft is an expansive folk-adjacent song that sort of just gives up steam halfway through for some experimental bullshit. Made for an interesting listen that kept me on my toes. Soft 4 for me.
Enjoyed this quite a bit during a chilly fall dog walk. Giggy Smile was great. I feel like this is an album I don't normally enjoy. It was a bit shoegazey at times, but I feel like overall it just had more energy. Low 4, with some really bright moments
That was some trippy stuff there. Took a while to get me going but the second disc was very cool. Giggly Smile was awesome and a great name of a song. Let this go into the deluxe edition without even knowing and was jamming the whole time. Was excited to see some Krautrock again and I was not disappointed.
OoOoOoOo I can definitely mess around with some krautrock. Loving the first track. Second is meh. Back to loving Jennifer. Now back to crazy! But kinda Floydish. Giggy Smile is a fun little diddy. Whatever instrument is being used in the first half of Lauft was incredibly peaceful. Honestly really loved that. Perfect amount of noise and fun.
Very weird, but pretty cool too. Besides krautrock, it sounded almost like shoegaze as well (especially the first track)
I like the music, it's a cool vibe. I wish the songs weren't all so long though, they start to drag about halfway through each one.
Very interesting album. Not as experimental as the band's previous efforts, but that's for the better. It's still pretty out there but is able to grab the listener by having some more familiar rock elements. Prime 70s German stuff. Key tracks: Krautrock The Sad Skinhead Jennifer
4.0 Come on, for 1973 this is fantastic. Never heard of these before, but so many great moments. Can hear the inspiration in so much music today. Experimental soft electronica, I love it.
Right off the bat I like this a lot. Grungy, dirty, somber and noisy. The mood it sets at the beginning is so warm, fuzzy and calming. Really cool and unique sounds used throughout that keep me thoroughly enticed. I was unfamiliar with this band before this record, and the only "Faust" artist I knew was DJ Faust (Faust & Shortee). This is one of those records I'm really happy I discovered while being a part of this project. This is album #489 in my journey.
krautrock... ahhhh, dat voelt altijd een beetje als thuiskomen
Not as bad as the reviews here would suggest.
Enjoyed most of this, not quite as engaging for me as Neu! but still enjoyable and worth a return imo! There were parts that dragged on, and when that works well, it makes for great almost hypnotic listening, but sometimes it doesnt always hit that. Good stuff though, will be back
At first try I had a migraine and it was awful. At second try I was high and it was heaven sent.
I like krautrock and boy that's an unexpected genre to me.
kinda gorillaz kinda modest mouse kinda NIN really great
Highlight Song/s: Krautrock, Jennifer and Lauft... I've been drowning in krautrock lately, can't keep myself from going under. Krautrock just sends the right signals to brain, I mean as I've said on other krautrock reviews, my favourite album is Low by David Bowie and I'm a fan of post-punk music. It's a great feeling when I hear what influenced my favourite bands, music genres and albums. For me this album sounds quite industrial but way before it was a genre, just yet another genre It practically created. The album was pretty much flawless. Mostly. Except I did not enjoy at all the 4th track with that chirping sound, that just completely triggered the wrong signals.
Nice.
Out of the blue genius with a handful of mood makers
Less KrautRock and more prog rock. Given the timespan of this group and their locale, this is a phenomenal album. 4.5/5
Great stuff, influenced half of what I listen to. Iconic opener.
Very enjoyable, weird I never knew of them considering they're like proto-post rock. I'll enjoy listening to it again
Faust IV was a wild album. It starts out with a pretty hard sounding ambient wall of sound, but then dives into are some wacky tracks (see "The Sad Skinhead" with its badass xylophone and the repeating lyrical ditty from "Jennifer" which will be stuck in my head for days). It's a very schizophrenic album, and I mean that in the best way. I never knew what would come next or, sometimes, how a song would even end because they rarely finished in the same fashion (or even genre) that they began in. It's weird and it kept me on my toes. I like that. Some of the riffs and recurring themes within songs are so catchy. Standouts were "Krautrock" "Jennifer" and "Lauft..." Full of weird sounds and good times, I don't even know how to rate this album. I had fun with it. It's unique as hell. But how much would I really relisten to? I dunno, maybe a song or two. But it's really cool and I can't stop thinking about it, and the musicians are actually pretty talented. It's getting a 4
I just rated a Bjork album 5 stars so I'm no stranger to indulgent soundscapes but this one's opening track is testing me. It's again one of those albums where you recognize how influential it is but you prefer the bands that it influenced. I hear a lot of post-OK Computer Radiohead in here. It's not as experimental as I was expecting when I read 'German krautrok'. OK I take that back - it gets so much better as it goes on. This is a great discovery for me. Will surely revisit this album when the mood is right for noise rock. Loved the songs 'Jennifer', 'Just a Second', 'Giggly Smile', 'Lauft...'
Дуже люблю краутрок і хоча четвертий фауст не є прям каноном жанру (що краутроку, що косміче), це все одно дуже класний і різноманітний альбом від одного з найцікавіших гуртів тієї сцени.
Didn’t care or pay attention so I listened again and it was pretty keen.
Who doesn’t love a long intro full of industrial distortion, anchored by a good dose of tambourine? This is a uniquely artful offering - atmospheric, trippy, surreal, even a bit dada-esque. Noise layered upon noise, and then more noise layered in. Yet, its held together in a pretty compelling way. I was not familiar with Faust before this but enjoyed it overall - particularly, the intro Krautrock, Lauft…Heisst… , and Piano Piece on disk two.
We're about 60+ albums into this project and finally we get served some Krautrock. Some of my favorite bands of all time have been clearly and heavily influenced by this movement, so I am eager to dig into some of their inspirations here. It's wild to consider this band specifically would influence subsequent artists as varied in their aesthetics as Throbbing Gristle, Radiohead, Swans, Madlib, and Simple Minds. What a swathe of styles. This album opens with a searing burst of synth noise on "Krautrock" that immediately demands the listener sit up and pay attention. And I do. This piece seems less about writing an iconoclastic song than instead shaping a space or an environment with sound, and it's discordantly rapturous. There are a lot of highlights here. "The Sad Skinhead" in all its bouncy ska-syncopated cartoon goofiness, also sounds like the template from which "Mongoloid" by Devo was crafted. "Just a Second" also bursts forward with a propulsive and engaging bass and rhythm guitar line that then takes a hard left and deconstructs itself into an experimental electronic foray that both bewilders the listener and psychedelically subverts the mood established in the first section; only to fall away and decay suddenly. The lengthy repetition of the synth lines on "Giggy Smile" get really old really fast, which doubles my appreciation for its abrupt halt. I rayther appreciate the boldness of these guys to inject some stoney chill song closing out like "It's a Bit of A Pain" with an insane punctuation of buzzing alarm noise. I've been a fan of Neu!, Sand, and Can over the years, but this was my first sit-down with Faust, and I'm definitely going to be exploring some more. Most of my favorite music is that which takes big risks and transports you as a listener, and these weirdos deliver all of the above in shimmering multitudes. As for the the album cover, it is fucking brilliant. It's such a statement to just put rows and rows of empty staff lines for music that relies so heavily on improvisation and experimentation. The contrast of minimalist cover design with the abstract kitchen-sink maximalism of the contents also does not escape notice and appreciation. It says everything we need to know: these guys aren't playing notes so much as crafting a soundspace for the listener to explore. The page is blank; inviting the listener to inhabit that space and fill in the empty monochromatic space with whatever images the music conjures up. And those images are fucking COLORFUL.
Nach Orchestral Manoeuvres noch mehr experimentale Mallotigheiten, dieses Mahl aus Deutschland. Sie rummeln lecker was an, aber schmeißen da nicht mit der Mütze nach. Stärker noch, es klingt was vage, aber ich kann es gut haben, diese Raumschifffahrtsmusik. Dichselbt nur nicht zu viel abfragen was du da eigentlich mit mußt. Keine Experimente? Sicher wohl!
Ik luister dit direct na Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark. En dan valt een enorm kwaliteitsverschil op. De Manoeuvres krijgen nu een lesje van een bijna 10 jaar ouder album. Ook nu volop digitale ondersteuning en (digitaal) gespeel met geluidjes. Echter op een veel sterkere muzikale basis en met veel meer balans. Ook nu geen Grammy voor de zang. Maar het is soms ook hoe je ermee omgaat. Misschien waardeer ik het nu net iets te hoog door de vergelijking met het vorige album, maar dat is goed tegen het zure broeder imago.
Krautrock, ik weet niet of ik dat al eerder echt geluisterd heb. Ik heb het boekje gelezen van Don Leo Blokhuis over de Berlijnse muziekscene en daar beschrijft hij wel wat van die krautrockbandjes, en hoe ze van invloed waren op oa Bowie. Wat hij omschreef, leek me nu niet echt heel interessant. De openingstrack komt langzaam los, een beetje saai, maar op het eind gaat het wel iets lijken op de postrock zoals ik die ken. Esoterisch komt in me op, geen idee waarom. Vervolgens luisteren we naar een Duitse Frank Zappa, gek stemmetje, gekke geluidjes. En zo wisselen die twee stijlen met elkaar af. De ene keer Zappaesque, met name als ze gaan zingen. De andere keer meanderend, soms experimenteel, maar wel nog met een lijn erin. Ik kan het vanmorgen erg goed hebben moet ik zeggen. Op elke andere dag zou dit absoluut een dikke onvoldoende kunnen scoren, maar vandaag bevalt het me bijzonder goed. Voor nu geef ik zelfs een 4. Ik check nog even de score van mijn favoriete Brabantse luistermaat, die zal dit wel neergesabeld hebben. Kan ik weer met beide beentjes op de grond, wat bezielde me ook om dit leuk te vinden. Wat blijkt: 5 sterren. Dan mag ik dit prima een 4 geven. Hiephoi
I usually like short songs. Not repetitive drones like this. But it's surprisingly good. Favorite song: krautrock
Très bon ! C’est du Krautrock, alors je m’attendais à quelque chose comme du Tangerine Dream, mais non ! C’est plus rock, il y a du psychédélique mélangé avec. C’est très intéressant à écouter !
what the fuck 92/100
Spacey, psychedelic and experimental rock. On the face of it, this is right up my alley and there were lots of parts I really loved. But some of it felt slow and aimless, with seemingly intentionally grating bits thrown in here and there. Highlights: Giggy Smile (especially the last section).
Very varied and a bit weird. I didn't enjoy all of it, but that's not surprising given how many tracks there were and how many genres it spanned. Overall, I enjoyed it more than I expected. It seemed like the kind of album that I wanted the Velvet Underground to make.
Interesting, unusual, influential.
Kæm visste at rar krautrock e sånt æ like? Ikke æ! Men tydeligvis når det dukke opp på riktig dag og alt sånt. Eneste ulempen va jo at æ tidvis måtte skru av for å finne ut av om den rare lyden kom fra omgivelsan eller musikken (det va stort sett musikken), men sånt får man tåle i kunsten.
Bigger fan of the instrumentals on this than I am the parts with vocals. But the whole thing is really fun to listen to.
ooh old ass krautrock. i still dont fully understand what krautrock but theres a lot cool albums that I like that are considered to be krautrock love the sound design on here its so crazy. very ahead of its time
Fine
I’ve been having a good time with the krautrock on this list. Could there possibly be a more Cool German Guy band name than Faust? Doubt it.
I was pretty bummed when I checked my phone to realize I was only half way through track one. I decided to end that misery and found myself well engaged for the remainder. This album is meandering and weird, with many left turns, some of which introduce feelings of minor discord, some of which feel more sublime. It has a Zappaesque feel in that regard, minus the technical superiority....but that isn't the point here. Regardless of where it was going, I always found myself ready for it and wanting to see what came next. Good stuff. 3.5 stars.
Das also ist des Pudels Kern!
Experimental sounds that sometimes causes me to stop and listen more than usual.
The opening track, Krautrock, is so much to my taste that I could quite happily have extended it to forty minutes and had it be the whole album. I liked the other stuff too, but not to the same extent.
Enjoyed listening to this album. Will have to listen to it some more!
A real discovery for once! I had never heard of this band before, but I truly enjoyed the cinematic and atmospheric vibe they created while alternating between traditional songwriting, ambience, and noise. This is super ambitious stuff, for 1973. They were way ahead of the curve. Quite delightful. I added "Just a Second (Starts Like That)/ Picnic On a Frozen River/Deuxieme Tableaux" to my collection.
There's quite a lot of different styles on this album, from sound collage to jazz and baroque pop to ambient etc. Interesting stuff, which i will probably have to listen to again, to get the full grip on things.
Inspired by the space they have to play and riff. Contiguous enough to stay engaged, but never any idea where we are in the track, and yet not bored out in a rush to find out
Based on the other reviews, I expected to hate this album. I was pleasantly surprised! Overall, the songs hit a groove and stay there, while the band plays around, sometimes melodically, sometimes with noise or other rhythmic sounds (insects, water dripping, etc.) But the effect is fun and groovy.
krautrock psychedelic fun times
Jag vet inte vad det var exakt. Men fan, jag diggar soundet rätt mycket, rakt igenom. Lite för långa låtar dock. Men kommit på mig själv med att fortsätta lyssna igenom skivan flera gånger och njuta. Lattjo med svenska snacket på sista. Jennifer är bäst. Riktigt grym.
Gillar direkt soundet i den första instrumentala låten, även om den är lite lång. Nästa låt är sämre, men så lyfter det från Jennifer och framåt och är tillräckligt bra och intressant för att det ska bli en fyra. Lite skruvat men på ett bra sätt. Kul överraskning.
A very interesting album with plenty of rock and ambient/industrial sounds. I can't believe this album released in '73 it sounds like a more modern era of music.
That was an interesting listen and I am looking forward to it coming up again in the shuffle in years to come
Surprisingly cohesive given its stylistic diversity. It’s occasionally beautiful and often interesting, but I don’t find myself drawn to the songs.
Really enjoyed this, excited to dive into their back catalogue!
"Faust IV" is the fourth studio album by German krautrock band Faust. This is the last album by the first incarnation of the band and was recorded at Manor Studio in England with producer Uwe Nettelbeck. Faust was one of the first bands signed to the Virgin record label and bandmembers included Werner "Zappi" Diermaier (drums), Hans Joachim Irmler (organ), Jean-Hervé Péron (vocals, bass), Rudolf Sosna (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Gunther Wüsthoff (synthesizer, saxophone). Critics consider this album a krautrock classic. The album opens with the instrumental "Krautrock." A wobbly guitar , synth, bass and tambourine create a drone sound that lasts for seven minutes after which drums kick in with a funky bass. Phasing guitar and laser synth sounds appear to close out the song. Hey, it's stoner krautrock to me. A scream wakes me up at the start of "The Sad Skinhead." A plodding bass and guitar slashes. A guy with a German accent starts singing. They add a xylophone and a background hum. The song ends chaotically. This is scary stuff indeed which continues in "Jennifer." A hypnotic song with an echoing synth and guitar strums. There's a melody in here somewhere. For some reason they add a cabaret piano to conclude the song. The second side begins with "Just a Second." A conventional wah-wah guitar and heavy bass remind us it's 1973. Can they stay there? Of course not, the conventionality stops as layered synths invade, take over and drive the song into 1973 prog rock. They combine Frank Zappa, jazz and progressive rock in the epic "Giggy Smile / Picnic on a Frozen River, Deuxieme Tableau." Weird lyrics, layered vocals, a sax, a organ and guitar jam, bass and drum anchored, all sorts of rhythm and time changes. Impressive and I need an aspirin. The album ends with the Brian Eno-esque "It's a Bit of a Pain." A lovely acoustic guitar, piano, soft drums and a guy singing interspersed with annoying synth and guitar noises and a woman randomly talking. Don't let perhaps the worst album cover that I've seen distract you from a unique and wild ride. These songs take you all over the place; Prog rock, Frank Zappa, Roxy Music, electronica, folk rock, ambient music and jazz are just some of the things that pop into my head listening to this. A very impressive display of musicianship and imagination. Never a dull moment. I don't know if this is for everyone but for those who like a bit of a musical adventure, this works.
An interesting music style, I liked Panic On A Frozen River the most.
This album is my shit. Weird and experimental, but still catchy. I finally get krautrock now... especially the song Krautrock. I've tried many times to get into Kraftwerk, but their music never clicks with me. This hit immediately. I want to put more time into this album and their discography for sure. I love the track variety. i love the bleeps and bloops. I love the noise they throw on top of the more standard rock tracks. I love how it takes psychedelic rock and breaks it in strange ways. I love the driving rhythms. I love how huge and epic the tracks are. It just works for me. Highlights: Krautrock - epic, driving, noisy, hypnotic The Sad Skinhead - 90s slacker rock/Velvet underground vibe with, cool groove, catchy xylophone bit on top Jennifer - another velvet underground vibe track that really melts into wild static joy... almost shoegaze-y Just a Second - it's half moody prog rock, half avant-garde synth soundscape It's a bit of pain - feels like Nick Drake put through a blender, love that ending solo
I enjoyed this more than i expected based on description. Still some sections that were too experimental noise for me
I have no idea why I mess with this but I do
i don't know what krautrock is but hell yeah
kraut-kraut-kraut-kraut-kraut like krautrock
The negative reviews for this one are so dramatic. They say they are in it for the weird and new, but I bet they mean they listened to "Revolution 9" and decided, while it wasn't for them it wasn't the worst Beatles song. This really isn't all that weird, the diarrhea noises in "just a second" notwithstanding. Influential, big yes. Interesting, big yes. Some of you haven't been in a sketchy basement show and it shows.
I don’t really have any context for this album but I enjoyed listening to it.
Potentísimo rock experimental con momentos algo incomprensibles pero que sí se sienten geniales. Muy bueno.
Psychedelic road trip music. Enjoyed it
If Roger Waters and Lou Reed banged = Faust def good driving music on way back from Vegas, but never need to hear it again. Unless I put it in a movie..
weirdo music (non-derogatory)
12 minuten durende openingstrack. Nee ok, prima joh! Ik had verder toch niets meer gepland... Het is heel moody, alleen instrumentaal? Sowieso; hoe komt de auteur op deze band in godsnaam? Nauwelijks afgespeeld en het enige wat erover staat op Wikipedia is "dit album staat in de 1001 lijst" Duitse band? Wel blij hoor, dat er tenminste eens buiten de Amerikaans/Britse grenzen gekeken word en ook fijn dat ik 2 keer Duits ga na gisteren Kraftwerk. Het is best wel geinig? Je hoort dat het geen native speakers zijn en qua instrumenten klinkt het ook best wel goed. Ik irriteer me in elk geval niet aan de muziek! Jennifer begint ook heel vet, met een soort wobbly bass ofzo? Gisteren ook al een futuristisch klinked album uit de jaren 70 uit Duitsland. Ik weet niet man, ze waren daar echt lekker innovatief bezig! Giggy Smile is echt een topplaat trouwens, word ik echt vrolijk van. Zeker niet alles werkt trouwens, grootste gedeelte is gewoon wel prima, met wat uitschieters naar beneden en boven. Fuck, het album krijgt toch 4 sterren. Het is super experimenteel, maar net lang genoeg dat het wel werkt. Je merkt aan alles dat ze er heel veel aan doen om je op het verkeerde been te zetten. Het abrupte einde van Giggly Smile, de lange ingerekte intro's en outro's, de ontzettende herrie die er opeens opklapt. Het werkt voor mij gewoon, ik hou niet van rock, maar Krautrock? Sign me the fuck up. FAVO: Giggy Smile - Dit is legit 1 van de meest fun songs die ik in lange lange lange lange tijd heb gehoord. GEWELDIG
Really interesting album, like this early 70's Krautrock sound a lot, 3.5 rounding up to ⭐⭐⭐⭐
very creative for its time. Enjoyed the surprising songs
Aika tiukka krauttilevy! Ja hieno kansi myös! 4/5
En ole kauheasti krauttirockia kuunnellut, mutta miellyttävä kokemus. Ainoa minus on vitosraidan lopussa huudettu yllättävä MOI! säikähdin. 4/5
This was a really good listen, I like creative music with a bit of weirdness going on. I don't think I have ever listened to his krautrock band before, but I'm looking forward to discover some other albums by them.
Groovy, underligt, futuristisk, lyder stadig mærkeligt et halvt årti senere
A really great krautrock/shoegaze album. Not as many interesting hooks as a CAN album, but was engaging throughout and I'll listen in the future. 4.2/5 -> 4/5
Had to listen twice over because it was confusing at first but I actually kind of enjoyed it, left like a mix of late 70s guitar with 90s grunge and modern sounds
This was pretty great, I was fully onboard for a lot of this. In true krautrock fashion there were so many echoes of music to come in the 90s and on, really enjoyed that component. Rating: 4.0
Avant garde krautrock that will thrust your music listening experience well beyond the boundaries of conventional sounds and song structures, however dedicated patience will reward your ears! This one gave me classic Residents vibes, a band that purposefully would make it difficult to endure their inharmonious songs, similarly found here beneath the uncomfortable surface textures is wondrous cerebral discovery. This will not be for everyone, as the songs can run long with unpredictable time signatures and random mixes of disparate instrumentation, which remarkably can work together in most songs resulting in a creatively unique and profoundly influential style. Progressive, atmospheric, psychedelic, punky and at times folk like, in arrangements that are made all their own. 🎧 Classic Track- Krautrock 🎧 Hidden Gem- The Sad Skinhead 🎧 Personal Favorite- Jennifer The opening track itself apparently coined the entire krautrock genre, to which I am now much more open to delving into after having listened to this surprising offering. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Mysteriously intriguing 💿 Add to your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)
Never heard this before and it was a pleasant surprise, not an easy listening experience but a very experimental journey, very recommended if you like being surprised.
I liked this! Didn’t know anything about Faust (and really still don’t). I guess I like krautrock? Anyway - I can see the connection to Gang of Four (who I occasionally thought I was listening to), T. Rex, NEU!, and Kraftwerk. This was cool.
Overall: 8/10 Wow, that first track is hypnotizing and almost ambient, then all hell breaks loose. Is all Krautrock like this? I think I like it! Just when you think you've heard everything, some other strange sound invades your eardrums. So unique and cool. I will admit I didnt love the end of the album but the rest was really great! Fav Song: Jennifer Least Fav Song: Just a Second (Starts Like That!)
I could listen to this all day. Pretty much anything with a motorik beat can pull me in. I realized this about 20 years ago when I saw Turing Machine (with the amazing and sincerely missed drummer Jerry Fuchs in NYC). Motorik and noise is an approach to music making that appeals to my ear. My journey back to the source material was ignited then. Given my long-standing appreciation for all the elements found in this classic album — you’d think my love for Faust IV would be mythical and boundless. And yet, it never quite reached that level. Maybe it’s a historical detachment, a lack of direct connection to them originally, or maybe I’ve just enjoyed Krautrock as a source of inspiration and been drawn into other bands by virtue of starting elsewhere. Listening to this record on repeat today didn’t change my feelings, it only affirmed them. Sometimes, that’s enough. And, four stars seems awfully fitting anyway.
4 I guess
Beep boop beep I can make weird synth sounds
Fell sonically into the "kinda mostly really liked" category. In fact I listened to all the bonus tracks on the deluxe version of the album they had on my streaming platform. The phone call picking up literally jump-scared me.
Fantastyczny album. Pink Floyd w zderzeniu z wczesną elektroniką. To musiało być niesamowicie eksperymentalne jak na swoje czasy. Sprawiło to, że bardzo mam ochotę zagłębić się bardziej w krautrock. "The Sad Skinhead" mnie bardzo rozbawiło, brzmi bardzo brytyjsko dla mnie. Brzmi jak album, który został stworzony do tego, żeby puszczać go z winyla.
Nie wiem co można więcej dodać po komentarzach innych, cieszę się, że tego przesłuchałem. Na pewno coś co bardziej trafia w gusta pretensjonalnych ludzi, którzy używają określeń jak "audialny labirynt" niż przeciętnego słuchacza. Ale siłą tego albumu chyba nie jest nawet jakość muzyki, ale niezwykle ciekawy i niepowtarzalny (dla mnie?) styl, który powoduje, że przesłuchanie tej płyty było przeżyciem. Odpaliłem płytę jeszcze raz po przesłuchaniu, co rzadko mi się zdarza i ciągle odnajdywałem coś innego.
So weird but great zone out music. “Touch me before you go down, kill me but don’t kill me baby, naked lunch was fun.” 👀
Faust is not a band I was familiar with, and found I quite liked them. Some of it sounds very 70s prog rock, though some of it sounds more innovative with that harsher industrial metal synth sound. 4/5
4/5. Cool concept and enjoyed the instrumental parts
I had no idea what to expect here but I actually kinda loved this. It felt really modern, every song was different. Totally listenable, cheeky, fun. Good for working. Would listen again 3.8/5
The whole album wasn't on Spotify, but i listened to what was there. Interesting, kind of cool. Overall I liked it
Perhaps not a pleasant listen, but a creative endeavour that bends and pushes the shape of rock music into mutant forms. Songs fall apart, or abruptly swerve into new territory, or blot out the 'prettiness' of traditional arrangements through overlays of discordant noise. It's not without an impish sense of humour either - certainly naming a track 'Krautrock' demonstrates an a sly self-awareness. I saw an iteration of Faust back in 2019. At one point, a member of the band began drilling into a slab on concrete in the middle of the dance floor. It was great, I got a whole load of doubtless carcinogenic dust in my lungs that evening.
A proper example of Krautrock which is somehow akin to prog rock but different. Not so grand but more intimate, swampy but mysterious. I love it.
An almost 12 minute song to start things? Ok, let’s see what you’ve got then…. So the first track is called Krautrock which makes me think of Kraftwerk. The next song sounds like Kraftwerk and Devo and I’m not sure if I’m going to think that through this whole album or not. I’m hearing hints of Syd Barrett Pink Floyd as well. If I played this for my grandma she would just call it “awful noise”, I beg to differ grandma. Although I can’t pull a specific track from this album as a stand out, I will say that it is good background noise and I did enjoy it for what it offers.
I A/B'ed this one with Emerson Lake and Palmer, and this was more my speed. Still weird and proggy but I liked the way it locks into grooves and becomes a bit funky.
This is the first one that has really impressed me. Ive been craving that noise aspect after listening to things like the pristine Joan Baez. Jennifer is stunning. I hear moments that clearly inspired bands like Ariel Pink, and others that inspired King Gizzard. If it was a little more tighter and focused this could have been my first 5, but it's a 4 because it wanders a little too much. But I'm taking note of this album, it feels so fresh despite it's age. Exceptional. 4/5
Weird German Shit > Weirdo German Shit Porn
For as cool and grand as the opener is (also for I guess kickstarting/naming the genre of "krautrock") the album itself is a little more varied. Jennifer and Just a second have some cooler older classic rock/prog vibes. Sad skinhead is kind of a weird almost ska experiment. Giggy smile has a great post rock style groove to it. It's a bit of a pain is a cool velvet underground esque acoustic rocker. Definitely a cool rock record to check out.
I think this is my first time listening to Faust--which is surprising. I understand that this is likely their most accessible record. It's good for sure, but I'd be more interested in listening to some of their records that are less accessible. Cool band it seems like.
Y'know, I can't remember why I thought this would be worse. I suppose between the fact that I'm still not 100% on what "krautrock" is and that I read "noise rock" and "sound collage" on Faust's Wikipedia page... Maybe I was just worried I'd get that kind of experimental music that's loud and noisy just for the sake of it. And while there **are** moments that lean into that... It's not as bad as that would imply? Like, there's two kinds of songs on this album: cosmic, ambient instrumental music, and The Mothers Of Invention. And I don't think I'm as into either kind of song as I am elsewhere (that Tangerine Dream album my group got and, y'know, any MOI album), I don't think it's nearly as bad or as boring as that average 2.77 score would imply. Frankly, I'd give this thing a 4. I'm not gonna act like I'm **that** crazy about it, or that I'd revisit any time soon, but for surpassing my expectations... Yeah, it's got me feeling pretty generous about this whole thing. "Für mich war das ein unterhaltsames Album" or something.
Krautrock, while being admittedly a bit repetitive in some regards, laid down the groundwork for all sorts of genres that people listen to today, with this album being no exception. 3.5 bumped up to 4.
Hadn’t heard this one before but I was really into it! It reminded me of Ween in a lot of ways
i always loved this album ... it kicks ass
Hey. A legit interesting and new album this book has brought me. So rare these days. A solid 3.5/5. Love the new areas they were exploring at the time. Album seemed to get better as it went on.
interesting record i would not hace lisrened to on my own
Wow I’ve never heard of this before but this album is weird, groovy, lo-fi, jammy, and just plain awesome.
This rocked. Inventive and weird with grooves throughout. Only occasionally do they devolve into sounding like their 1973 peers, but they mainly created something that holds up. “Sad Skinhead” was a fun ride and “Jennifer” is so nice. Surprisingly good stuff here.
Apart from all the bad times you gave me (bad times) I always felt good with you (with you)