FAUST IV

In my previous reviews of "Faust Tapes" and "So Far" I was little reserved in giving stars purely because I considered that FAUST was really a hard listen and an acquired taste so as to recommend it just like that to anyone seemed to me a bit careless. "Faust IV" on the other hand is the closest they got to "conventional" progressive or experimental rock and IMO it thus can be measured by these standards.

FAUST is probably the typical krautrock band and among their albums I would pick "Faust IV" (and surely the first "clear vinyl"). Not only because of the symbolical level (the opening track is titled "Krautrock"), but because it is a perfect example of a "polished krautrock avant garde", somewhat near to standard rock canons. Other three albums are way too radical to be easily appreciated, without knowing some basic theory of avant garde art. The sleeve design with empty musical notes sheet suggests another tapes- type "music concrete" odds and ends, but...

"Krautrock" is a masterpiece of electronic noise. "The Sad Skinhead" is a silly "pop" tune which recklessly stole the typical ska/new wave rhythm from the whole 1980-81 era. Shame on you guys! "Jennifer" is a mind-blowing psyche "ballad" with pulsating bass drone and impressionist minimalist lyrics. "Just a Second" offers a short trip to heavy acid rock, while "Picnic on a Frozen River" is an extension of the same synth theme from "So Far". "It's a Bit of Pain" seems to calm down at the end with a acoustic folky melody, alas not farther than few seconds when a guitar-drill-saw jumps in to cut and slice everything into pieces. Just to remind you this was still FAUST!

Thumbs up!

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