Faust IV
by Faust

An amazing start to the record with those first 3 songs which all just hit but unfortunately it slowly loses its quality the closer you get to the conclusion. They seem to start with all the fresh ideas and interesting experimentation which leads to a brilliant first 20 minutes of the record with The Sad Skinhead being the peak for me. This song just feels so unique and engaging, making me want to revisit it over and over again. After these songs it becomes a reasonably inconsistent listen with there being more weaker parts than stronger ones but there is a slight resurgence on the final track which is very good. The record never really gets dull as well with it managing to stay different and interesting throughout which is mainly due to the detail put into the sound and the multilayering they do which works so well. They take a lot of risks as well however some do lead onto some poorer moments which feel quite confused and overloaded. Overall, some great music is present on here and it's worth a listen for its individuality and experimentation.

random noises and instrumentation

Doesn't click with me the same way as their debut album does.

From teague 04/14/2020 05:03 | #249919

Krautrock has never been my go to when it comes to progressive rock and its subgenres. Other than Tago Mago, I've never really enjoyed a full krautrock album, but I did end up liking this. The experimentation isn't too self-indulgent, which is the main thing that has deterred me from the genre.

From JulianR 10/20/2017 05:11 | #199835

Quite an awesome album. Not what I was expecting, but still awesome

This album is like the culmunation of all preceeding Faust albums. Somehow they managed to make this their best album. This album is lika a psychedelic journey throug noisy experimentation which never dips in quality. Krautrock and the Just A Second - Picnic On A Frozen River, Deuxieme Tableaux are the best things they ever did.

From meccalecca 03/29/2013 17:29 | #70445

A colossal sonic landscape. It takes time to explore all of the deep crevices that make this album such a special place to exist within.

From lancashirearab 06/23/2012 06:00 | #45083

I love the Sad PSkinhead.

Founding member Hans Joachim Irmler once described Faust as being ‘musical dada’ which is probably the best way to put their sound into words. A bizarre collage of noisy guitars, experimental percussion and snippets of jazz all created with a sense of anarchic fun. ‘Faust IV’ is a classic of its era. Like a lot of German albums of the decade it is almost criminally underrated but remains a must have for fans of experimental rock music. Still touring and recording today Faust have forged a unique musical path. This record offers a glimpse into their sound at its most accessible stage, managing to be both uncompromising and catchy.

Trippy kosmische musik convulsions combine with Barret-esque whimsy. The result is somewhat of a radical, yet more focused (albeit less experimental) departure from their groundbreaking debut. This record grows on you with each listen as increasingly its complexities and subtleties are revealed.