Faust - The Faust Concerts Vol. II FLAC

i was at this show, not much to add to the extensive review below, but i seem to recall that an amp started burning during the opening number (Abamae) and there was a bit of a wait while that was sorted out. i spotted a microphone with a large pop shield up on the balcony so wasn't too surprised when this recording was released.
there was a healthy turnout of london musicians at the show...i waited to get in behind the whole of (then recently split up) Loop, i think there were at least a couple of members of Creaming Jesus there and of course Bobby Gillespie too...
i saw them a few years later at the Garage in London and was surprised when someone shouted out 'J'AI MAL AUX DENTS!' between songs...Jean-Hervé immediately said '...ok...' and started blasting out the riff, the band kicking in a beat later...they take requests!

The return of Faust
by Alan Freeman

For years now we'd heard rumours that Faust were back together again, but little evidence was forwarded. Such rumours becoming thought of as little more than wishful thinking. However, recently via a very strange source, the American magazine Chemical Imbalance, firm evidence was to be found on the accompanying free 7" EP in the guise of a 1990 live recording. Not very well recorded, yet unmistakably Faust and also reminiscent of early This Heat, it's an enigmatic piece, a kind of a sedate Krautrock perhaps.
I doubt anyone realised that this minor morsel would prequel one of the most talked about concerts of the year, namely their first UK concert in some seventeen years or so...

The Marquee Club, Soho, London
25th October 1992

First reaction: my ticket was number 519, and this place didn't look big enough for 400! But they kept packing them in until it was impossible to get back to the bar (good job at £2.30 a pint!), and it was great to see so many people I knew, good chance for a chat whilst a slightly too fast THE FAUST TAPES was played at a volume far too loud to play at home!
There were rumours of a support act called Assemplage, yet after a very long wait four uncertain figures appeared on the dimly lit stage strewn with scrap metal, power tools, and something that slightly resembled a drum set. Yes, that was Faust lurking in the corner! Jean-Hervé Peron was the first to come up front (seeming rather unsure initially) and with audience response as the other musicians followed: Werner Diermaier, Joachim Irmler, and guest percussionist Axel (presumably the mysterious "Assemplage"), all got ready as Jean-Hervé set the clocks back twenty years with an ideal concert opener On The Way To Abamae from SO FAR. Loose and rather un-together, this was not the Faust most of us were used to, and certainly some electric guitar and winds wouldn't have gone amiss, yet what was to follow was some of the most amazingly aggressive, indulgent and fascinating music. Right from the start Jean-Hervé seemed to express himself as the front man (something not so evident on their albums) as he proceeded to spout out words in French with such violent aggression, suitably matched by a furious electronic and percussive accompaniment. Next up (if I remember right) was the closing folky number from THE FAUST TAPES (an unusual choice for a concert number) and then the stark contrast of an almighty blitz - yes, time for chainsaw, jackhammer and grinder, as Jean-Hervé carved out the word "Rein" (Pure) maliciously with the chainsaw. But this was only the beginning of such mayhem, there was much more to come: a duet for scrap metal, other themes from THE FAUST TAPES, and a virtually unrecognisable song from SO FAR (sorry, can't recall what it was), and much more wild antics with a very Einsturzende Neubauten like instrumental base - Faust angst at its most profound, daunting and exciting. I gather all this was too much for some of the audience, yet like many I was agog with astonishment, despite the passing of time Faust hadn't mellowed at all, they were ever raucous - just like what I'd read about their 70's concerts. The last number was the piece from the Chemical Imbalance EP played with a touch more verve and energy.
So, was it all over? Not quite - time for an encore. A moment of excess, as Jean-Hervé proceeded to destroy his profound statement with frenzied abandon, chainsaw and other devices creating the most phenomenal racket. Audibly, nothing more than noise, yet visually astonishing. Wow! Amidst ecstatic cries from the audience Jean-Hervé proclaimed 'we'll be back!' - let's hope so, and maybe a new album?
To tide us over is the timely CD reissue of FAUST IV, nicely produced and presented by Virgin no less, and at mid-price too! No need to review it here, check your Audion #13 for Steve's excellent condensed history on the band!

from AUDION #23. November 1992. Page 7.