Cannon Release Brand New Album ‘Comet’s Coming’

After resuming activity after an absence of more than a decade in 2020, Cannon returns with Comet’s Coming, their second full-length album in quick succession.

While its 2021 predecessor Connexion was a chance for a reunion of good friends and a re-exploration of the explosive chemistry that won the band initial acclaim in the mid-2000s, Comet’s Coming, as the title suggests, is perceivably darker affair, as raw tones soundtrack deeper themes and concepts, telling the trio still have plenty of fresh creativity to explore.

Cannon, featuring Mitchy McIvor, Dave Mudie and Adam Green, were ubiquitous on the Australian live circuit during the mid oughts peak of the “new rock” revolution. While at the same time their raucous single Hell from their debut Hardwood Hits EP, was resonating loudly on the national airwaves, they crossed the country with the likes of McIvor’s cousins in Jet, who were at their peak iPod ad hysteria phase, fellow locals Dallas Crane and internationals including Tenacious D and The Black Keys. As the new rock wave broke to the softer indie folk sounds prominent toward the end of that decade, Cannon also paused in 2008 with members spending the next decade working on various multiple individual projects including, McIvor with Damndogs, Mudie with Courtney Barnett & Super American Eagle, and Green with Danny Walsh Band.

It was then some ten years later where Dave Mudie recalls a random night seeing each other out at the pub where the idea of getting together for a jam was suggested. Such was the reignition of energy that the band, “basically wrote a whole record in that first jam”. The resulting debut LP Connexion was warmly received.

Now Cannon was back and rolling, McIvor who Dave Mudie confirms has always been a “prolific writer,” had soon completed enough material for a second album. Before Mudie was due to hit the road with Courtney Barnett for a year, the band headed back into the studio for a single day with Fabian Hunter (Jade Imagine, Baby Blue) once again at the controls to capture the basic tracking for Comet’s Coming. In Hunter’s cramped, analogue gear laden Fishbone Tone Shack Studio, the trio recorded hot to tape, giving the new album tracks a raw weightiness that is evident from the first listen. Mitchy tells Hi Fi Way more about the album.

Congratulations on your new album Comet’s Coming, if we are to take the title literally, is this album a warning for dark times ahead?
Who knows…! I can understand that interpretation and it sometimes feels that way. The premise of Comet’s Coming is the acceptance of mortality. The title song is inspired by Patrick White’s novel, Voss, and the reference to a comet applies traditional First Nation Australian beliefs to signify that a metaphysical event has occurred – and indeed often this indicates something dark has happened. So the point for us and why it works as a title, is that such a moment allows reflection.

After taking a break throughout the 2010’s what’s different about this 2020’s reanimated version of the band?
Better songs, sounds, and wine, and more breaks at rehearsal.

What is the creative process of the band, are the songs written together, or does one writer present material for the band to work on?
It varies quite a bit. For this record I brought many of the ideas as demos initially, which as a group we bent and shaped and developed.

There are three members of the band, what does each individual member bring to the project?
I think we complement each other very well because we are quite different personalities and everyone contributes – and brings their own skills and experiences. Bands are mysterious entities and one wouldn’t want to analyse too much as there is a magic that occurs working together that is better not to define. It’s a great team and we rely on each other – that feels good.

What was the recording of the album like, did it take much time to come together?
Lots of pre-work completing demos and sharing ideas and crafting what we were after. The recording process was quick to capture a certain energy and organic feel to tape. We spent a bit more time experimenting with a few things and adding overdubs after getting the bed tracks recorded live.

Cannon was known in the 2000’s for their powerful live shows, is this still an important element for the band and how does Cannon live version differ from the studio incarnation?
It is! But we’re much better at creating a good balance now – which I think only heightens the powerful moments. When we’re on we push the boundaries and we always get comments by fans reflecting they’d forgotten how good the band is live. But we have a greater dynamic range and more interesting sounds.

We represent the studio sound pretty closely live, but we try and emphasise a certain energy and it naturally has a certain edge because you’re performing to an audience. And sometimes we extend some endings!

With more combined experience among the band’s members, how have the goals of the band changed over time?
We don’t want to waste time talking and waiting for others – we want to get on with producing music we love and publishing it.

What are the plans moving forward for Cannon?
We can’t wait to play the record live to as many people as we can. And plan on producing more music very soon.

In one sentence sum up the new album?
Purposeful songwriting that has captured our live sound and created a cohesive statement that flows from track to track.

Interview By Rob Lyon

Order Comet’s Coming from Bandcamp…