“Rauschgold” is the second in a series of Mix CDs put out by the Staubgold label. The first CD was mixed by minimal techno DJ and producer Peter Grummich and was aptly titled “Dinner Music for Clubbers”. In line with the title, Grummich concentrated on the lighter side of the Staubgold catalogue. If you would think that Alec Empire would concentrate on the most difficult tunes from Staubgold’s legacy, you’re not quite right. If you would compare “Rauschgold” to any style of Alec Empire, it would probably be his releases on Mille Plateaux, i.e. dark, musique concrete influenced instrumental electronica.

Very fittingly, Empire starts the mix with his own remix of tunes by Faust’s Hans Joachim Irmler and by Reuber. The following is not only a wild mix of everything that the Staubgold catalogue has in stock. It’s also a pretty weird trip. The suite of Mapstation, a heavily treated and hazy track by Schwabinggrad Ballet and then a tune by Organ Eye is quite an experience. There are always tracks which pass by without making too much of a fuss (e.g. “Radiophony” by The Loop Orchestra or “Zaspiam” by Beta Erko). But they’re usually followed by a more interesting tune right away so that the mix has no real break.

Really great are the sharp style changes like when a heavy guitar krautrock tune by Faust is followed by the lush “Gross Genug” by Harald Sack Ziegler, a fast tune by Die Welttraumforscher and finally “Scarlet Woman” by Heaven And and Alexander Hacke, again heavily treated by Alec Empire. Thereafter, the disc fades out with darker ambient tunes by Klangwart, Paul Wirkus and Alec Empire himself. Like “Dinner Music for Clubbers”, “Rauschgold” is no disc that you desperately need. But as a good mix of krauty electronica, it’s very worthwhile. 7/10 -- Stephan Bauer (1 April, 2009)