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Its fair to say that this is the first time I have witnessed an aging German drummer smashing power tools onto enormous sheets of metal to create large sprays of sparks, and its dubious if this act doesn’t breach Ruby Lounge’s health and safety regulations, but here I am, midweek witnessing a master class in Krautrock.
After several years on hiatus the band returned this year with new album Faust is Last. A similar album to Faust IV in that it presents a more accessible melodic sound then their traditional 20 minute kraut prog rock doodling. Several band members have come and gone but the original founding members Werner Diermaier (drums) & Hans Joachim Irmler (keyboards) are still present, and although new members give the band a youthful appearance the bands distinctive dirge of industrial sound has remained a constant to the present day.
The stage set up has always been important to Faust, and tonight is no exception. With enormous sheets of metal, a vacuum cleaner and even a cement mixer all featuring tonight to create the bands industrial heavy sounds. The show touched on various favourites such as ‘Krautrock’ or ‘Its A Rainy Day Sunshine’, but in general and in true Faust fashion they often escalate into 10 minute prog-outs, with the guitars often playing second fiddle to the cacophony of bangs and screeches coming from the various artefacts littering the stage from which the band pick up to create their noise.
The band have stated that Faust Is Last will be their final album, so it seems a shame that their potential final gig in Manchester should be at such a small venue. If tonight shows anything, it’s that after 40 years and countless band members, Faust’s distinctive sound has yet to age, and if anything they sound as fresh and relevant today as they have ever been TAGS: Faust, Wotgodforgot, The Ruby Lounge Words by: Andy Best Links: Faust - Myspace |
