Search - Faust :: Faust/Faust So Far

Mmm, sublime.

Lord Chimp | Monkey World | 12/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is the excellent reissue that combines Faust's first two albums, their self-titled release and _So Far_. Both albums are masterful, comprising some of the finest experimental music to date. Recorded in the 70s, I'm completely blown away by how they remain so original and fascinating. It also ranks as some of the tastiest ear candy I've indulged in.Up first is _Faust_. Combining the usual rock lineup with tape manipulation, electronics, and plenty of diverse styles, the self-titled album is three songs of godly experimental music. The 10-minute "Why Don't You Eat Carrots" begins with a harsh electronic drone before plunking in a sample from the Rolling Stones' "I Can't Get No Satisfaction". There is plenty of satisfaction to be found here, though. What follows is a montage of trance-inducing marching rhythms, odd ball lyrics, weird cosmic zone-outs, strange circus-sounding themes, and distorted vocal noises that fade in and out. Transitions between movements are quite herky-jerky, but remember: a lot of this stuff was arranged by slicing and connecting different sections of tape. I find it very hypnotic the way the music flows. "Meadow Meal", song number two, comes off the melodious ending of "Why Don't You Eat Carrots" with an array of industrial plinks and clanks, before evolving into a pastoral guitar melody, fierce rock, a brief episode of musique concrete (a storm), and finally a lulling organ spot. "Miss Fortune" (hee hee) would take up all of side 2 on the original LP. This is a strange one. Lots of effects and textures, interesting percussion -- very avant-garde and amazing. I wish I could describe it better, but my review title applies nicely here. Some other choice adjectives are: entrancing, remarkable, and pukka (yes, that's a real word).With _ So Far_, the band applies their avant-garde style with slightly more conventional structure and weird pop hooks. You still get some very avant-garde stuff, like the primitive noise of "Mamie is Blue". On the other hand, there is also the pretty "On the Way to Abamae", just light acoustic guitar and an ethereal flute synth. "It's a Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl" takes a constant, tribal 4/4 drum beat and puts different instruments on top of it -- synthesizer, jangly guitar riffs, piano, saxophone, and a darn catchy vocal line. "So Far" is an amazingly groovy, smoky jazz shuffle. "I Have My Car and My TV" has a childish vocal introduction which cuts into a careless, brisk keyboard (or guitar?-- their tones are so weird and cool) line that is Evil-Catchy, overlain with guitar and saxophone solos. "No Harm" is amazing, from the heralding melody at the beginning to the bacchanalia of guitar jamming and the wildly crazy shouts of "Daddy take a banana | Tomorrow is Sunday". Uh, yeah. These albums are amazing and timeless. If you have any interest at all in experimental music, you are insane not to have this. It is a deserving classic.All right, enough from me. Hit the "Add to shopping cart" button now."

Whoa. . .

Jeff Archer Black | Land of Cheese & Beer, USA | 07/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"All of the previous reviews are quite accurate. So, I'll just submit this caveat; DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS WHILE ON HALLUCINOGENS."

Here's what the kitchen sink sounds like.......

loveweird | Fairview, NC United States | 02/04/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This band just didn't give a f*#k!! You will not hear many records that sound like this one. I have to hand it to Sony for putting this one out. This CD compiles the first two albums of Faust, released originally in 1971 & 1972. My personal favorite is the self-titled first one. It is anarchic, schizophrenic, surrealistic, intense and even melodic in places. The instrumentation is not your typical guitar/bass/drums lineup - it is much weirder than that. The emphasis is less on technique and more on imagination. It is one of my favorite albums ever. In a word, uncompromising. The second album, So Far, almost had what could be construed as "song-like" structures. They are NOT conventional "verse-chorus-verse" songs. "It's A Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl" starts with an unsubtle, pounding tom beat and doesn't let up for about 8 minutes. Some of the other selections start out somewhat normal but quickly morph into strange and disturbing explorations in sound. Yet some passages are oddly tranquil. I'm telling ya, this CD runs the gamut. Be prepared. There was no musical precedent for this when it reared its demon head in the early 70's. Somewhere, someone is experiencing the frightening and idiosyncratic aural world that is FAUST."