FAUST IS LAST

Complex, soundscaping-like, slowly flowing noise. Intelligent man's noise, but noise nevertheless. Well, I suppose that if you are fan of Faust and all "over the edge in a weird way" Prog, you will like it, but I don't count myself as one. It's actually quite good stuff for drug inducted states of mind (well, I can only suppose this scenario, as I never tried them, but it simply sounds like the right music for such occasions). Psychedelic, the hardcore kind of it. But I simply have problems enjoying most parts of it. Don't get me wrong, there is some good "stuff" in this double package, but it's burried under much other sounds of very little interest.

almost for fans only + a little bit more. Of course, fan of such genre would rate higher, but that's to be expected.

Wow! I almost forgot such kind of music could be played not from archive releases! Faust released 2 CD long album,full of fresh and energetic krautrock, deeply rooted in early 70-s, but with refreshed sound.

Mostly instrumental album (still contains some vocals compositions) is noisy,ambient, repetitive in moments,psychedelic - but first of all its sound very fresh and never boring (what isn't easy for such long release with big amount of instrumental music)! First CD is a home for shorter almost instrumental only compositions with quite relaxed psychedelic improv sound, the second - longer and much noisier improvs with few different vocals, by its atmosphere (and sometimes even directly) similar to some early freaky Cpt.Beafheart's works.Strongest impression reminded after album's listening - I can hardly remember another release so filled with distorted instruments sounds! Yes, it's krautrock, and I didn't expected clear sounds, but level of distortion is over all my expectations! And it works - for sure it strongly depends on personal taste, but for me this music was a fresh air breath on nowadays experimental scene.It's great both 2 CDa are quite different between each other, but are important parts of the album - without any of them album wouldn't be the same for sure!

Free jazz sax, ambient sounds, electric guitars soloing, vibrating bass, jazzy and tribal drumming, noisy and very psychedelic atmosphere - this album isn't just collection of songs, it's a great piece of art in whole! By its scale this release reminded me the time when Pink Floyd's albums were each such piece of art.

After some listening this album growth in me, and I believe I will need to listen it more and more. One of greatest surprise of 2010!

My rating is 4,5,rounded to 5!Very recommended!

First of all I need to point out I'm not a member of the Faust fanclub. In fact, Faust is nearly the only renowned Krautrock act that I have yet to fall for. Specialists point to live and radio registration instead of the regular 70's album. Maybe that might be an option for me.

As to this 2010 release, it's quite a different beast from the Faust I remember from the 70's. This work sounds a lot darker, noisier and a whole lot less goofy. The instrumental tracks are in the majority and they form a cohesive cosmic experience, varying between abrasive noise-rock, cranky dub and industrial pieces and chillingly bleak guitar and sample experimentation. There are also a couple of vocals but they don't add much and can even be distracting. They certainly made this a much too long album.

From the 90 minutes presented here you could easily compile an excellent 45 minutes of experimental and intriguing music, bordering on noise but with enough musicality to please fans of the early 70's free-jazz based cosmic Krautrock psychedelia (quite a mouthful there... just think Cosmic Jokers). But as a total album experience it misses its mark and the second disc rather disappoints. 3.5 stars, 3 sounds unfairly low given the wealth of material here.

I kind of lied about Faust moving away from industrial music in my review for C'est Com...Com...Compliqué, since they had one more trick up their sleeve in terms of intriguing industrial experiments, with their 2010 release of Faust Is Last being a smorgasbord of noisy rock n' roll and ambience.

This is easily the longest Faust record yet, containing an hour and a half worth of music, with 22 tracks to boot. The album is split into two CDs, Faust A and Faust Z, both being kind of their own albums in their own right.

Faust A is a lot more related to their krautrock jams within their industrial era, and probably some of the best tracks the album has to offer. I think there is quite a bit to enjoy on this first CD, having tracks that range from the more quiet and smooth laden Rien, to the intense meltdown that was Ravvivando. This dynamic makes every track feel quite unique from each other, which I enjoy quite a lot. My favorite tracks off this CD are probably Nachtfahrt, as it contains an intensity that feels quite similar in vein to the rock in opposition sound of the 70s, I Don't Buy Your Shit No More since it has a very classic psych rock sound that I think is fun, and Day Out, since it reminds me of Jennifer, but for piano instead of guitar.

While I may think Faust A is the better CD, I still do think it is a little bit too long. Some moments like Brumm Und Blech and Cluster Fur Cluster just do not need to be there, and with every track kind of having this weird echo effect makes things feel a little too spaced out for me.

Faust Z is a lot more industrial than Faust A, though it is a lot more in the same vein as the kind of industrial music Throbbing Gristle and Coil has made. While it is considerably shorter than Faust A, Faust Z does prove itself to pack a punch, having this creepy atmosphere that persists through layers of drone and noise, only dabbling in a few moments of krautrockiness here and there. It almost has an aura to that of what David Sylvian would try after the 90s, particularly on Blemish and Died In The Wool. As a fan of some drone, I think Faust Z showcases some pretty amazing stuff, especially on tracks like Ozean and Ghostrain, both I think are probably Faust's most haunting songs ever.

Even then, it has one thing keeping it from being the best, and that being the last two tracks of Vorubergehen and Primitivelona. They are pretty rough, being these long winded sound collages that offer quite a lot of atmosphere and ambience, though a bit too late on the record, and maybe a bit too long to. I do wish I could like what they did on these tracks, but they don't really catch my attention, and feel inferior to all the tracks that came before, aside from some tracks on Faust A.

I also noticed on Faust A that some tracks are meant to go into one another in like a suite fashion, though before they could they stop at the last second before moving to the next song. I do not know how it is on other versions that aren't from streaming services, but it kind of makes Faust A feel glitchy, and not in a good way mind you. Kind of hope Faust Is Last gets some remix in the future, so these problems in the production on the first CD don't persist.

I think Faust Is Last is pretty underrated, though I can see why some may not fully enjoy it. I personally do like it quite a bit, but the more I hear it, the more the faults kind of become apparent. Still, I think it can be worth your time, just make sure to be ready for a pretty long record.

Best tracks: Nachtfahrt, I Don't Buy Your Shit No More, Day Out, Ozean, GhosTrain

Worst tracks: Brumm Und Blech, Cluster Fur Cluster, Vorubergehen, Primitivelona