Wiki
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Release Date
1 January 1973
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Length
8 tracks
Faust IV is a 1973 album by the German krautrock group Faust. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, where it is referred to as a "krautrock classic".
The band did not release another album for 20 years, and with a different lineup.
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, Germany. These additions include "Krautrock" (previously aired on the John Peel show) and "It's a Bit of a Pain" (previously released as a single in Germany).
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. 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. The liner notes on the 2CD remaster contain many inaccuracies.
1973 release:
"Krautrock" – 11:47
"The Sad Skinhead" – 2:43
"Jennifer" – 7:11
"Just a Second / Picnic on a Frozen River, Deuxieme Tableau" – 3:35
"Giggy Smile" – 7:45
"Läuft…Heißt Das Es Läuft Oder Es Kommt Bald…Läuft" – 3:40
"It's a Bit of a Pain" – 3:08
The published track listing contains a number of errors. Track 5 is listed as "Picnic on a Frozen River, Deuxieme Tableux", which is in fact part of track 4. Track 6 is listed as "Giggy Smile", which is actually track 5. Track 6 is the first part of "Läuft…Heisst Das Es Läuft Oder Es Kommt Bald…Läuft", of which Track 7 is the second part.
Werner "Zappi" Diermaier – drums
Hans Joachim Irmler – organ
Jean-Hervé Péron – bass
Rudolf Sosna – guitar, keyboards
Gunter Wüsthoff – synthesiser, sax
Kurt Graupner – engineer
Uwe Nettelbeck – producer, cover artwork
Gunter Wüsthoff – cover artwork
All titles written & performed by Faust
Special Equipment & sound engineering by Kurt Graupner
Recorded at The Manor, Oxfordshire, England, June 73
Cover by Uwe Nettelbeck & Gunter Wüsthoff
Published by Golden Records Music/Virgin Music
"It's a Bit of a Pain" published by Intersong
A Golden Records Production
Produced by Uwe Nettelbeck
Virgin Records 130 Notting Hill Gate, London, W.11
Distributed by EMI & Island
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