Faust (album)

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.

Music
AllMusic described the album as "an amalgamation of electronics, rock, tape edits, acoustic guitars, musique concrete, and industrial angst."

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
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."

Personnel

 * Faust
 * Werner "Zappi" Diermaier – drums
 * Hans Joachim Irmler – organ
 * Arnulf Meifert – drums
 * Jean-Hervé Péron – bass guitar
 * Rudolf Sosna – guitar, keyboards
 * Gunther Wüsthoff – synthesiser, saxophone


 * Additional musicians and production
 * Kurt Graupner – engineering
 * Andy Hertel – illustration
 * Uwe Nettelbeck – production, design