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Comets On Fire’s past recordings include some of the most over-the-top psychedelic freakouts in recent memory. “Avatar,” the San Francisco-based quintet’s fourth studio effort, takes a different path. They’ve throttled back on the Blue Cheer-style guitar eruptions and untrammeled electronics to make room for new elements: Spaghetti western instrumental flourishes, Procol Harum-style balladry and a hint of prog rock. The results are decidedly mixed; while fluid drumming and nimble guitar work render the complexities of “Jay Bird” and “The Swallow’s Eye” graceful, the keyboard-heavy ballads strive for heaviness but sound flabby.
