So Far

NEU!やCANと並び称されるクラウトロックの伝説、Faustが1972年にリリースした2ndアルバム『So Far』が再発!デビュー作でテープ編集や抽象的構造、文化的残滓のコラージュにより音楽の常識を覆したFaustは、本作でその革新性をさらに進化させた。ほとんど歌のように聞こえる構造の中に反逆を巧妙に隠し、予測不能で反骨精神あふれる本質を体現している。原始的なパーカッション、催眠のようなギターとベース、電子音が混沌の中で牧歌的な美しさやブルースの情感と響き合う。タイトル曲「So Far」ではキャッチーなサイケ・グルーヴを展開し、「Mamie Is Blue」や「I've Got My Car and My TV」ではプロト・インダストリアルやダダ的実験を先取りした。混沌と創造が交差する稀有な傑作が甦る!

Faust's second album moves closer to actual song structure than their debut, but it still remains experimental. Songs progress and evolve instead of abruptly stopping or cutting into other tracks. The opening song "It's a Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl" begins as a repetitive 4/4 beat played on toms and piano with the title sung over the top. But for seven minutes the song adds instruments, including a lush analog synth line, and ends in a memorable sax riff. Faust's lyrical side appears on the acoustic "Picnic on a Frozen River" and "On the Way to Adamae," whereas its abrasive side pops up on "Me Lack Space." "So Far," a jam shared by guitar, horns, and tweedy keyboard, rolls along with a funky hypnotic beat and wailing processed synths. And on "No Harm," the crazed delivery of such lines as "Daddy, take the banana, tomorrow Sunday" makes one want to believe something profound is going down. In terms of scope and the wealth of ideas, this is probably the most balanced of their first four albums. ~ Ted Mills