Search - Tony Conrad & Faust :: Outside the Dream Syndicate

A good album

john knight | oberlin ohio | 12/01/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was my introduction to Faust, and to the musical style of krautrock. Basically, this album is two long songs. THere is also a third song, but that is just an alternate take of the first song. This music is very minimal. Tony Conrad plays his viola or violin at a fairly constant note, maintaining a drone for the 20-minute songs. Meanwhile, Jean-Herve, Zappi, and another Faust guy plod along, not changing what they are playing very much, either. It's super repititious, and when Zappi finnaly has a drum fill, it is a big event. Now, a lot of people will find this boring, but I don't. The music has a very organic pulse to it, it seems very alive. I like this album a lot better that the other work I've heard by Tony COnrad. Faust are the perfect backing band for him. I don't listen to this album all that much, but when I do, I always enjoy it."