Sometimes when I encounter bands that have what are, in my opinion, silly names, I manage to avoid listening to them as a result of my shallow judgment. I am always tremendously disappointed in myself, therefore, when I do finally listen to such a band and discover that they are actually very talented.People for Audio are one of those bands. (what does that mean! Are some people against audio? I mean, it’s like being anti-cancer, it’s sort of a given. Anyway…)

People for Audio have greatly outdone themselves on their sophomore effort, The New Ancients, making it an appropriate starting point, and so I don't feel too bad about ignoring their first release. Filled with beautiful piano parts, slide guitar, and understated male/female vocals, The New Ancients manages to be polystylistic without sacrificing its unity or suffering from awkward transitions. The use of organs and synths is sparse and subtle, but adds a fullness and warmth the band may otherwise lack. The drumming instantly evokes a jazzy mood, and, coupled with the subtle repetition and changes in the meandering guitar playing, one cannot help but call to mind Do Make Say Think. The country feel suggested by the lapsteel/slide guitar and banjo, such as in songs like "The Old Identical" may remind some listeners of other country influenced post-rock bands, such as Sumner McKane, although far less kinetic. P4A drift through their arrangements, working the same melodies over and over, slowly evolving and rolling into each other. The use of vocals is tasteful, and grounds the band in some ways in a folk tradition, not quite ever sounding pop, all the while maintaining their credentials as instrumentalists. The vocals are at times excellent, with male/female harmonies not unlike those of Mates of State, but never become overbearing or distracting. The tracks which include vocals make sure that the vocals are in the forefront of the song, adding an emotional grounding, similar to that of late 90's indie bands. These songs have an almost timeless quality, sounding instantly familiar without sounding unoriginal.

The morphology of The New Ancients is so natural and smooth that the listener is hardly aware of the transitions between instrumental and vocal driven songs. Although not always successful, P4A occasionally branch off and take some chances, straying slightly from their established style to experiment. These jams never quite go as far out as one might wish, but this restraint doesn’t keep the band Considering how much progress they have already shown, this is an excellent quality for a band to have, and I look forward to seeing what Montreal's favorite 'space-jam-band' will produce in the future.The New Ancients is dense and interesting enough to warrant multiple listens, and its melodies will borough into your brain long after the last song trails off.