Released 53 years ago today, 'Faust IV' was, remarkably, the band's third LP of 1973. I (along with many of my age group I suspect) originally bumped into Faust via 'The Faust Tapes', a budget (49p!) album issued five months earlier, that my Glam-infused brain struggled to make head or tails of initially and was latterly, accurately, described by Wire magazine as showcasing '...sonic collage at its best...' Also released in 1973 was 'Outside the Dream Syndicate', Faust's fabulous collaboration with Tony Conrad, an album that I didn't actually hear for the first time until I was significantly longer in the tooth.
'Faust IV' kicks off with the epic droning 'Krautrock', running just shy of 12 minutes. When an expanded reissue of the album appeared in 2006, an equally lengthy, though slightly more abrasive Peel Session recording of 'Krautrock' was among the extra tracks and it's that particular version I offer here.
Faust's self-titled 1971 debut contains more musical ideas than you can shake a stick at and is quite the 34 minute sonic adventure. What it isn't though, is anything approaching an easy listen. The following year the band returned with their second LP, 'So Far'. The record finds Faust still quirky, challenging and wildly experimental, but this time a tad more accessible. 'Its A Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl' opens proceedings and is a particular favourite of noted Krautrock authority Julian Cope.
If you're of a similar vintage to me, chances
are that I can name two LPs that, at some
point in your youth, made an appearance in
your record collection, however briefly. 'The
Faust Tapes' and Gong's 'Camembert
Electrique' were both marketed by Virgin at
59p each, the price of a single, and were
gratefully snapped up by fiscally challenged
kids the length and breadth of the country.
These two records (along with the Sunset
budget reissue of Amon Düül II's 'Phallus
Dei') became early far-out favourites for me
and my little gang of musical adventurers. We
weren't always sure what exactly was going on within the grooves of these LPs, but we were
totally thrilled by the strange new noises we
were hearing.
There are no doubt a few battered old copies
of 'Camembert Electrique' being dug out and
dusted off today, following yesterday's sad
statement from Daevid Allen, original Gong main man and co-founder of The Soft Machine.
In case you haven't seen it, I quote this
from his website;
'Hello you Kookaburras,
OK so I have had my PET-CAT scans (which is
essentially a full body viewing gallery for
cancer specialists) and so it is now
confirmed that the invading cancer has
returned to successfully establish dominant
residency in my neck. The original surgery
took much of it out, but the cancer has now
recreated itself with renewed vigor while
also spreading to my lung.
The cancer is now so well established that I
have now been given approximately six months
to live.
So My view has Changed:
I am not interested in endless surgical
operations and in fact it has come as a
relief to know that the end is in sight.
I am a great believer in "The Will of the Way
Things Are" and I also believe that the time
has come to stop resisting and denying and to
surrender to the way it is.
I can only hope that during this journey, I
have somehow contributed to the happiness in
the lives of a few other fellow humans.
I believe I have done my best to heal, dear
friends and that you have been enormously
helpful in supporting me through this time
So Thank you SO much for being there with me,
for the Ocean of Love and Now, importantly,
Thank you for starting the process of letting
go of me, of mourning then transforming and
celebrating this death coming up - this is
how you can contribute, this would be a great
gift from those emotionally and spiritually
involved with me.
I love you and will be with you always -
Daevid xxx -'
Awful news indeed. We can only send good
vibes, hope for a miracle and celebrate the
music Allen leaves us with. Here's a
fantastic piece of footage from 1973,
featuring a live performance of 'I Never Glid
Before', originally released on that year's
'Angel's Egg' LP.
