The robot theme on Robert Lippok?s latest disc for the Western Vinyl label seems to be more of an inspirational nature than getting through to the listener in an obvious way. Nonetheless, ?Robot? is a great release clocking in just above the 20-minute mark. Robert Lippok plays together with his brother Ronald in the post-rock band To Rococo Rot and has collaborated with Barbara Morgenstern and Komeit. But except for one EP, there haven?t been any solo releases from Lippok until now.

?Robot? contains four longer pieces and some shorter loops. While the short tunes are a good supplement, it?s the longer tracks that really give this EP its profile. In comparison to Lippok?s 2001 EP ?Open Close Open? on the Raster Noton label, ?Robot? is less minimal and closer to the To Rococo Rot sound. Lippok?s major asset is his ability to combine and shift several layers of bubbly and percussive polyrhythmic patterns. His choice of sounds moves from futuristic to 90s electro, but always hits the spot. An exception to this description is the EP ender ?Sweet Servo?, which is the only non-rhythmic piece, sounding more like musique concr?te than the electronica, Lippok is known for. This is definitely a direction worth pursuing. It?s somewhat of a pity that ?Robot? is yet ?just? another EP from Lippok. A full-length album would be very welcome. 7/10 -- Stephan Bauer (16 October, 2006)