FAUST – Ravvivando – CD – 718750360021

Ravvivando is full of some of the best Velvet Underground minimalist-noise-rush this side of My Bloody Valentine, even if you miss the complete audio-visual aspect of their insane pyrotechnic shows (see The Faust Concerts). Interestingly, there are brief parodies/tributes to their fellow Germans Amon Duul (“Take Care”), Cluster (“Ein Neurer Tag”), and Neu! “T-Electronique” — perhaps not surprising from a band that once self-consciously called a song “Krautrock.” With the amusing carnival-like “Dr’ Hansl,” the monster-movie blues of “Livin’ Toyko,” the eerie, chanted “Apokalpyse,” and the anthemic, spiritual “Du Weibt Schon,” this represents something of a new twist in their career. It has more to do with the collage quality of Rien (1995) than the wonderfully goofy IV or their early tape experiments. An intriguing phase for an always unpredictable group.

Jason Gross / AllMusic