Faust (album)

Faust
Cover for the original 1971 German pressing
Studio album by Faust
Released	1971
Recorded	1971
Studio	Wümme (Bremen, Germany)
Genre	Krautrock experimental rock sound collage avant-garde
Length	34:07
Label	Polydor
Producer	Uwe Nettelbeck
Faust chronology
Faust (1971) Faust So Far (1972)

Faust (German for "fist") is the debut studio album by German rock band Faust. It was released in 1971 through Polydor Records. Although it was never a commercial success, Faust has garnered much retrospective acclaim from rock critics.

Background

In 1971, Polydor entered a deal with Uwe Nettelbeck to assemble a musical ensemble that could compete with the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and Small Faces. Before the release of their debut, Faust would send tapes to Polydor containing anything from studio experiments to recordings of someone washing dishes.

Cover artwork

The original LP record was on clear vinyl in a clear cover with an X-ray of a human fist silkscreened on the outer sleeve. It also included a transparent plastic sheet with the lyrics and credits printed in red.

Release and reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Pitchfork Media	(9.0/10)

AllMusic critic Archie Patterson lauded the band's accomplishment, writing: "The impact of Faust cannot be overstated; their debut album was truly a revolutionary step forward in the progress of 'rock music.'" He awarded Faust four and a half out of five stars, concluding that "the level of imagination is staggering, the concept is totally unique and it's fun to listen to as well."

Track listing

Personnel