Deriving their name from a passage in Albert Camus classic existentialist novel The Plague, Connecticut based avant gardists The Files and Fires return with their sophomore release, the inquisitively titled For People Talk Lightly. Formed in 2006 by Tyler J Smith and Ian Tait, the duo went through a diverse array of musicians before sticking with current drummer Mike Howard and guitarist Peter Recine. Their self engineered debut Like Ivy released in 2008, found the band in cautious post, trance rock by numbers mode nearly afraid to express their true musical intent or aspirations. With For People Talk Lightly on the other hand, a blossoming maturity has seeped through and fashioned a record where before you can comprehend its surroundings you are enthralled in its charisma.
The albums intro Berliner and following track The Iron Pillars are deployed almost like tiny currents pulling and drawing you slowly toward the rest of the record, where before long you are drowning in the sonic depths of the sumptuousness and beauty that is Let Us Unfold Our Veils in the Wind. Following a short re-emergence for air with the albums weakest track A Miracle Saved Us, it is back to the idyllic depths with the appropriately titled The Sea was Left Behind, washing over you with some of the most enchanting and heart warming strings I have heard in some time. For People Talk Lightly is then brought to a close superbly with the impressive grandeur and adroitly precise arrangement of And The Day Goes By, But Time Stands Still.
The Files and Fires, have produced a stunning follow up to their at times lacklustre debut, which demonstrates a band with the ability to develop and be courageous and focused with their choices, a trait often unseen in many young bands these days. And having the pleasure of coming across For People Talk Lightly by complete coincidence makes this very special album that little bit more special.
