Faust (German for "fist") is the debut studio album by German rock band Faust. It was recorded live on 21 September 1971 and released later in the same year 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.[1]
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.
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."[2]
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