The most hyped band of the festival managed to exceed mythical expectations, even though the members of Faust uncannily resemble your high school music teachers. The night began with Jean-Hervé Péron playing a trumpet and snaking his way through the sardined crowd. By the time he got to the stage and the band started playing, the audience was hypnotized as the reigning Krautrock royalty performed their first Canadian show. Faust played a loose but solid set, which secured their place as one of the finest German exports since the umlaut. There was a surprising spoken word interlude courtesy of Zoë Skoulding (the German version of Kim Gordon). What's even more surprising is that the indecipherable spoken word was easily forgiven, as the diatribe was immediately followed by a song that featured a faux domestic dispute between Skoulding and Péron, ending the way all violent disputes end - with a kiss. For the finale, the stolid drummer miraculously took an electric sander to his gong and cymbal, sending sparks into the adoring crowd who were nothing short of honoured to be singed by such musical legends.
Faust
Montreal, QC October 3
BY Sophie Naima CairdPublished Oct 5, 2009