PUNKT

Long lost masterpiece from Faust? Well not exactly. Their record company Bureau B markets this as 'for the first time ever this lost 'last' album recordings'. But that's not true, parts of it has been released in 'Munic and Elsewhere', in'Abzu' and at least according some netsite in 'BBC Sessions+'. Anyway the story goes after their unsuccess in UK they went to record next album into Giorgio Moroder's Musicland Studio. After ten days recording sessions Richard Branson of the Virgin wasn't satisfied of the recordings and refused to pay their expensive staying in the Arabella High Rise building during the recordings. So that was the end of Faust career in the seventies. It seems Virgin released as promo cassette of 'Faust V' of those recordings, but as far as I know, this album isn't same as that cassette. If that cassette really exists, it's extremely rare, because I haven't seen it for sale anywhere.

Album starter 'Morning Land' is same piece as 'Munic / Yesterday' in 'Munic and Elsewhere', but I believe it's different take. It has same hypnotic groove in it with repeated vocals. Hard to say which version is better. Next 'Crapolino' is a electronic soundcollage with mystic speaken voices. Faust in it's greatest! Next 'Knochentanz' is same as 'Munic / Other' in 'Munic and Elsewhere'. It can be even the same version, but at least the mix is different and I like more 'Munic and Elsewhere' version, because there are lot more elements. This version sounds more like some kind of raw mix. 'Fernlight' is again unheard piece to me. It sounds a lot Eno-era Bowie to me with very Fripp like guitar sound. 'Juggernaut' is very punky instrumental piece, it has something same as 'Giggy Smile' in 'Faust IV' but it's much rawer. 'Schön Rund' is the most interesting piece in this album. It's piano parts reminds a little 'Meer' in 'Munic and Elsewhere', but these are totally different pieces. After calm start piece`s intensity rises, but changes again quite serene. The end is really free-jazzy! The last 'Prend Ton Temps' is the least interesting one. It has just drums and symbal beats, shoutings and some electro noise.

Because this 'Munic' sessions were the end of the seventies Faust, Bureau B decided to name this album as 'Punkt' that means 'full stop' in German. But I believe this will not mean, this will be a last release of these sessions. I believe Faust was very productive in those 10 days, so there may come even boxset of those recordings. It's easy to understand when listening 'Munic and Elsewhere' and this recording why Virgin records rejected them. Sales of 'Faust IV' weren't high, so this even more experimental material wouldn't have make bands situation any better. Anyway as big Faust-fan I am glad of this album, although it hasn't got totally new material to me. I believe it has the best of those Munic-sessions.

Here we are, the final Faust record to review. I say that but there is probably a lot more coming soon. That said, this is the last one in terms of right now, so it does give me a lot to reflect on my experiences when it comes to these records and this band as a whole. Been a long journey to get here, but I'd say it has been worth the effort in spades.

Punkt is the first of the archival releases they started back in 2022, in the same year as Daumenbruch. Unlike the Momentaufnahme releases we'd get later on, Punkt is special in the fact that it is their lost fifth album. Yeah, they have a lot of albums that were gonna be their fifth but just never went through in the end, though Punkt does seem like the most complete one out of all the others they have planned. It is evident of this as this was recorded the same year they made and released Faust IV, so in a way this could've been released in the same year if Faust never broke up momentarily.

It is also evident in the sound of the record. I am guessing they were on a particular high for this kinda style they were experimenting on IV, as this album is pretty chock full of methods like that. Most songs are very jam focused, like most things relating to Faust, but here it certainly has a bigger role. I have expressed my enjoyment of the Faust jams in the past, so this was certainly pretty well rounded for my pleasure. The jams are pretty big too, with Morning Land being 9 minutes and Knochentanz being 11, so you get some meaty stuff here.

However, I feel like these jams don't reach the same highs as what Faust IV gave us, and that reason is that, while good, they don't quite have much personality or flavors other than sounding a bit like Faust IV's stuff. They honestly feel kinda textbook in terms of krautrock music, and end up being more dampening to me. They are a bit interesting at least in that they do have kind of a proto-industrial tone, and hearing something that feels more up on 90s Faust's alley is really something. They always think ahead in those old days. Though still, with the limited amount of knowledge they have of future music in the 70s, it is no surprise that these tracks feel kinda old in comparison.

That is, if you are only looking at the first half of Punkt.

The second half is a much different story. Juggernaut, Schön Rund, and Prends Ton Temps are three stellar tracks that make up the second half of the record and do a great job at redeeming this album's shortcomings.

Juggernaut is a space rock, almost proto-punk level of song that feels like it is constantly moving along until it starts to become slightly more abstract, which I think is just really cool. Schön Rund on the other hand is this more ambient piece, using piano and other key instruments to craft this 9 minute melody, one that slowly morphs into a more wild, and manic jazz fusion number, which reminds me a lot of Miles Davis' Get Up With It. Lastly, Prends Ton Temps is such a creepy number to end things off on, being this horrific cacophony of rock music that feels like the soundtrack to an avant garde horror film. All that to say, the second half of this album is amazing, with some tracks being the best in their entire discography, and I cannot deny that it probably would've been their best tracks in their 70s catalog if they managed to release the album in 1974 or 75.

Punkt may be imperfect, but it is an interesting and at times a really fun experience. I doubt it is on the same tier as Faust IV, especially with that rocky first few songs, but it does edge quite close when taken into account to the last three tracks. I am glad I could end this discog binge with a sure fire bang, and whatever release this legendary band has in store later on I am sure to enjoy it, and review it.

Best tracks: Juggernaut, Schön rund, Prends ton temps

Worst tracks: Crapolino, Fernlicht