by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Comets on Fire’s new record, Avatar, is sure to have some of their fans raising holy hell. Their trademark white noise, fuzz pedals, electronic manipulation and oscillations found on previous records like Field Recordings From the Sun and Blue Cathedral are tucked into the background in favour of more rigid composition and an early ’70s psychedelic sound. The Mirror talked to multi-instrumentalist Noel Von Harmonson at his San Francisco home, over the phone.

Mirror: So was it a conscious decision to change the band’s sound on Avatar?

Noel Von Harmonson: We weren’t really going for any particular sound, but our starting point for each record has always been to intentionally make a departure from our last record. It’s just an unspoken rule that we have. We want there to be continuity but we don’t want to repeat ourselves.

M: I think the record was amazing, but with the exception of “Holy Teeth,” it definitely seems a lot more laid back for you guys.

NVH: In my opinion, you can only make this kind of caterwaul-noise rock record twice or three times, and then it can get stale. Everybody in the band are broad music listeners and don’t really feel like we have to stay in the super-rock world or whatever.

M: Considering your previous work got slapped with the noise/psychedelic tag, a style that’s enjoying some underground popularity, it seems odd timing for you guys to distance yourselves from that.

NVH: I wouldn’t say that we’re trying to stay away from that scene, but we just didn’t want to get totally burnt on one sound. Having said that, though, it seems that there are noise and psychedelic bands in every town and a lot of them are starting to sound the same. I think there is definitely a lot less inspiration when bands feel like they are part of a scene instead of just pushing people’s buttons and opening up people’s minds. I guess you see some retread with a lot of so-called noise or psychedelic bands, but I guess that’s natural. Ten years ago, I really didn’t see a lot of kids doing more abstract musical things and I think it’s cool that they’re doing it.

M: Your ’60s and ’70s influences have always shined through, but those influences seem to be pushed more to the forefront on Avatar.

NVH: I think some of the most brilliant records were made just before psychedelic music went into prog rock. We consciously don’t like to wear the ’60s and ’70s costume because that is just too easy and it’s more validating to take those influences and just push them into different directions.

M: There has always been a tight bond between the members of Comets on Fire, including being childhood friends. Is this tight bond an influence on the music?

NVH: This band has always been about being able to go into a room, drink some beer and just play some music. If it ever became something where we couldn’t just go and jam on some rock after work, take our shirts off and drink some brews, and just stopped being fun, we would all want to stop. It’s definitely friendship rock, for sure.

With the Donkeys and Panopticon Eyelids at la Sala Rossa on Sept. 6, 8 p.m. $12

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