"Grace Days is Toronto-based Shaw-Han Liem's full-length follow-up to his November 2001 debut album The Catch. His brainchild, I Am Robot And Proud creates hypnotic, winsome, indie electropop in the neighborhood of Boards of Canada, Mouse on Mars, Buffalo Daughter, Solvent, Plone and Yellow Magic Orchestra. As the name suggests, I Am Robot And Proud makes bloop-bloop music that layers mechanical rhythms with warm melodies through a combination of dusty old keyboards and electric pianos, bloopy computer samples, humming bass, and voices from both past and future. Grace Days expands on the lilt,sparkle, and color of The Catch. The nine tracks on this album have even warmer, deeper melodies than I Am Robot and Proud's previous release, with the harmonies on Her Version evoking a future in which robots will not only have emotions, but will sing about them. The title-track opener marries acoustics and electronics so perfectly that you will marvel that they were ever separated. The abstract form of tracks like Friction On Teeth and Mexico City will draw you deeper into a trance until you can't imagine how you got along before this album."
The Thinking Person's Electronica
Richard Bone | Smithfield, RI USA | 01/12/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tired of most of the current bunch of tedious knob twiddlers collectively known as electronica? Then try I AM ROBOT AND PROUD. Every track exudes either an inspired mellowness or a clever uplift drift. The tracks are so wonderfully produced that they have the ability to, at once, become the most exquisite background music or, when "viewed" through headphones, reveal their aural gems! A proud robot indeed."
Lovely sounds
D. Peterson | Arcata, CA United States | 04/20/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"lovely sounds for lovely people. pleasant and warming: friendly electric music that is good for listening to in many different situations. if you like music, especially electric music, try this. if you like the postal service or any band that sounds like the postal service, try this (unless you find vocal-free music horrible, because there are no words in any of these songs). if you like beeping, you'll like this album because there are some fine beeps. Good job Proud Robot!"
Mellow and surprising
braindata | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 09/25/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a nice update in quality over I Am Robot's... previous album, "The Catch", though style-wise it sounds similar. Melodies are delivered by tonal beeps and a droning keyboard that rarely escape an octave range. It is the sonic equivalent of staring. What makes this release superior to "The Catch" is the spectrum of sounds used. There are deep basslines, acoustic guitar, more crunchy sounds, and the occasional mid-track rhythm changes.Standout tracks include the romantic title track, the upbeat and phenomenal "Winter at Night", and "Learn From Mistakes"."
Evoke feelings you never knew you had.
J. James Wright | PA | 03/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Breathtaking creation of ambient sounds that will leave you mesmerized. I am robot and proud gives us an album packed with sounds to awaken your senses. I highly recommend to all that can open their mind to receive such a wonderful gift."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1
