PUNKT

Here we are, the final Faust record to review. I say that but there is probably a lot more coming soon. That said, this is the last one in terms of right now, so it does give me a lot to reflect on my experiences when it comes to these records and this band as a whole. Been a long journey to get here, but I'd say it has been worth the effort in spades.

Punkt is the first of the archival releases they started back in 2022, in the same year as Daumenbruch. Unlike the Momentaufnahme releases we'd get later on, Punkt is special in the fact that it is their lost fifth album. Yeah, they have a lot of albums that were gonna be their fifth but just never went through in the end, though Punkt does seem like the most complete one out of all the others they have planned. It is evident of this as this was recorded the same year they made and released Faust IV, so in a way this could've been released in the same year if Faust never broke up momentarily.

It is also evident in the sound of the record. I am guessing they were on a particular high for this kinda style they were experimenting on IV, as this album is pretty chock full of methods like that. Most songs are very jam focused, like most things relating to Faust, but here it certainly has a bigger role. I have expressed my enjoyment of the Faust jams in the past, so this was certainly pretty well rounded for my pleasure. The jams are pretty big too, with Morning Land being 9 minutes and Knochentanz being 11, so you get some meaty stuff here.

However, I feel like these jams don't reach the same highs as what Faust IV gave us, and that reason is that, while good, they don't quite have much personality or flavors other than sounding a bit like Faust IV's stuff. They honestly feel kinda textbook in terms of krautrock music, and end up being more dampening to me. They are a bit interesting at least in that they do have kind of a proto-industrial tone, and hearing something that feels more up on 90s Faust's alley is really something. They always think ahead in those old days. Though still, with the limited amount of knowledge they have of future music in the 70s, it is no surprise that these tracks feel kinda old in comparison.

That is, if you are only looking at the first half of Punkt.

The second half is a much different story. Juggernaut, Schön Rund, and Prends Ton Temps are three stellar tracks that make up the second half of the record and do a great job at redeeming this album's shortcomings.

Juggernaut is a space rock, almost proto-punk level of song that feels like it is constantly moving along until it starts to become slightly more abstract, which I think is just really cool. Schön Rund on the other hand is this more ambient piece, using piano and other key instruments to craft this 9 minute melody, one that slowly morphs into a more wild, and manic jazz fusion number, which reminds me a lot of Miles Davis' Get Up With It. Lastly, Prends Ton Temps is such a creepy number to end things off on, being this horrific cacophony of rock music that feels like the soundtrack to an avant garde horror film. All that to say, the second half of this album is amazing, with some tracks being the best in their entire discography, and I cannot deny that it probably would've been their best tracks in their 70s catalog if they managed to release the album in 1974 or 75.

Punkt may be imperfect, but it is an interesting and at times a really fun experience. I doubt it is on the same tier as Faust IV, especially with that rocky first few songs, but it does edge quite close when taken into account to the last three tracks. I am glad I could end this discog binge with a sure fire bang, and whatever release this legendary band has in store later on I am sure to enjoy it, and review it.

Best tracks: Juggernaut, Schön rund, Prends ton temps

Worst tracks: Crapolino, Fernlicht