| Faust IV | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 21, 1973 | |||
| Recorded | The Manor, Oxfordshire, England, June 1973 | |||
| Genre | Krautrock | |||
| Length | 43:37 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer | Uwe Nettelbeck | |||
| Faust chronology | ||||
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Faust IV is the fourth studio album by the German krautrock band Faust, released in 1973. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die , where it is referred to as a "krautrock classic". [1] This was the last album by the first incarnation of the band, they returned in 1994 with the release of Rien featuring a different line-up. [2]
The album was recorded at the Manor Studio in England. As the sessions took too long to complete, producer Uwe Nettelbeck opted to complete the album with material that was recorded at previous sessions in Wümme in Bremen, Germany. These additions include "Krautrock" (previously aired on the John Peel show) and "It's a Bit of a Pain" (previously released as the b-side of the "So Far" single in Germany). [3]
The opener, "Krautrock", is a drone-based instrumental with drums appearing after seven minutes, while later tracks such as "The Sad Skinhead" and "Jennifer" employ more conventional songwriting techniques. [3] The closing track, "It's a Bit of a Pain", combines both styles, utilising noise during its chorus. At a point late in the song, following the chorus a woman's voice speaking in Swedish is heard. The track "Just A Second" had the notation "starts like that!" added to the title on the CD reissues. The track numbering on the original CD was incorrect and misleading. [4] The liner notes on the 2CD remaster contain many inaccuracies.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Pitchfork | (9.4/10) [3] |
| Spin | |
In 2007, Pitchfork reviewed the album, stating, "The gorgeous psych-ballad "Jennifer" provides a suitably jarring transition from the previous song, and is further proof that the band (Sosna in this case) were capable of writing actual "songs," with melodies and chords that in some other, non-acid-baked circumstance, might already have been attached to a Volkswagen ad by now." [3]
Madlib sampled The Sad Skinhead in 2013 for his album Rock Konducta, Pt. 1 on the track "Far Faust". [7]
Original 1973 release
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Krautrock" | 11:47 |
| 2. | "The Sad Skinhead" | 2:43 |
| 3. | "Jennifer" | 7:11 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Just a Second" | 3:35 |
| 2. | "Giggy Smile / Picnic on a Frozen River, Deuxieme Tableau" | 7:45 |
| 3. | "Läuft...Heißt Das Es Läuft Oder Es Kommt Bald...Läuft" | 4:28 |
| 4. | "Run" | 3:40 |
| 5. | "It's a Bit of a Pain" | 3:08 |
The published track listing contains a number of errors. Track 5, "Giggy Smile / Picnic on a Frozen River, Deuxieme Tableau" is incorrectly listed as "Picnic on a Frozen River, Deuxieme Tableau". Track 6, "Läuft...Heisst Das Es Läuft Oder Es Kommt Bald...Läuft", is incorrectly listed as "Giggy Smile". [4] "Run" is incorrectly listed as "Läuft...Heißt Das Es Läuft Oder Es Kommt Bald…Läuft". [8]
2006 Faust IV CD EMI reissue [9]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Krautrock" | 11:48 |
| 2. | "The Sad Skinhead" | 2:36 |
| 3. | "Jennifer" | 7:13 |
| 4. | "Just a Second (Starts Like That!)/Picnic on a Frozen River, Deuxieme Tableaux" | 3:35 |
| 5. | "Giggy Smile" | 7:46 |
| 6. | "Läuft...Heisst Das Es Läuft Oder Es Kommt Bald....Läuft" | 8:07 |
| 7. | "It's a Bit of a Pain" | 3:08 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Lurcher" | 7:51 |
| 2. | "Krautrock" | 11:44 |
| 3. | "Do So" | 2:33 |
| 4. | "Jennifer" | 4:49 |
| 5. | "The Sad Skinhead" | 3:21 |
| 6. | "Just a Second (Starts Like That!)" | 10:32 |
| 7. | "Piano Piece" | 5:58 |
| 8. | "Läuft...Heisst Das Es Läuft Oder Es Kommt Bald...Läuft" | 4:14 |
| 9. | "Giggy Smile" | 5:55 |