PUNKT

Long lost masterpiece from Faust? Well not exactly. Their record company Bureau B markets this as 'for the first time ever this lost 'last' album recordings'. But that's not true, parts of it has been released in 'Munic and Elsewhere', in'Abzu' and at least according some netsite in 'BBC Sessions+'. Anyway the story goes after their unsuccess in UK they went to record next album into Giorgio Moroder's Musicland Studio. After ten days recording sessions Richard Branson of the Virgin wasn't satisfied of the recordings and refused to pay their expensive staying in the Arabella High Rise building during the recordings. So that was the end of Faust career in the seventies. It seems Virgin released as promo cassette of 'Faust V' of those recordings, but as far as I know, this album isn't same as that cassette. If that cassette really exists, it's extremely rare, because I haven't seen it for sale anywhere.

Album starter 'Morning Land' is same piece as 'Munic / Yesterday' in 'Munic and Elsewhere', but I believe it's different take. It has same hypnotic groove in it with repeated vocals. Hard to say which version is better. Next 'Crapolino' is a electronic soundcollage with mystic speaken voices. Faust in it's greatest! Next 'Knochentanz' is same as 'Munic / Other' in 'Munic and Elsewhere'. It can be even the same version, but at least the mix is different and I like more 'Munic and Elsewhere' version, because there are lot more elements. This version sounds more like some kind of raw mix. 'Fernlight' is again unheard piece to me. It sounds a lot Eno-era Bowie to me with very Fripp like guitar sound. 'Juggernaut' is very punky instrumental piece, it has something same as 'Giggy Smile' in 'Faust IV' but it's much rawer. 'Schön Rund' is the most interesting piece in this album. It's piano parts reminds a little 'Meer' in 'Munic and Elsewhere', but these are totally different pieces. After calm start piece`s intensity rises, but changes again quite serene. The end is really free-jazzy! The last 'Prend Ton Temps' is the least interesting one. It has just drums and symbal beats, shoutings and some electro noise.

Because this 'Munic' sessions were the end of the seventies Faust, Bureau B decided to name this album as 'Punkt' that means 'full stop' in German. But I believe this will not mean, this will be a last release of these sessions. I believe Faust was very productive in those 10 days, so there may come even boxset of those recordings. It's easy to understand when listening 'Munic and Elsewhere' and this recording why Virgin records rejected them. Sales of 'Faust IV' weren't high, so this even more experimental material wouldn't have make bands situation any better. Anyway as big Faust-fan I am glad of this album, although it hasn't got totally new material to me. I believe it has the best of those Munic-sessions.