Review: Sun Dial - Mind Control

Sun Dial are veterans of the UK psychedelic scene with their debut LP 'Other Way Out' reaching almost mythical status. Primarily the instrument of main man Gary Ramon, the band has been through many line-up changes and stylistic experimentations but remain a legendary name in the psych world. Sulatron Records, always purveyors of great taste, have seen fit to give Sun Dial's 'Mind Control' a welcome re-release on CD, complete with two bonus tracked culled from the original album recording session.

'Mind Control' kicks off with 'Mountain Of Fire And Miracles', a hazy psychedelic journey rich in atmosphere. Driven by an insistent bassline, Ramon's guitar is given free range to roam, adding lysergic swirls and flourishes over some spacey electronica. It is not a track that hurries to get anywhere, but is all the better for that; the sedate pace adds to the dreamlike quality. 'Radiation', with its evocative eastern melodies, is an instrumental with some authoritive drums that provide the platform for some echo-laden but understated guitar and plenty of psychedelic flourishes. 'Burned In' is a very brief interlude - the sound of a fixed groove on a turntable and some tabla over a classical sounding piece of orchestration before the title track phases in with some motorik drums and synth lines. The reverb-heavy guitar steps up a gear and gives out some real krautrock vibes and the track as a whole sounds as though it could have been recorded in Berlin circa 1974. 'Last Rays Of The Sun' is a sun-dappled instrumental that foregoes the stark krautrock of 'Mind Control' in favour of a more contemplative and languid approach that results in a beautiful piece of music. 'In Every dreamhome A Heartache' is a space rock take on the Roxy Music number. Starting slowly it soon builds and evolves into a Hawkwind-esque romp....Roxy Music never sounded so good. 'Seven Pointed Star' is the first of the bonus tracks. The addition of some strings (courtesy of Joolie Wood who has also contributed to David Tibet's Current 93) and an acoustic guitar gives this track a bucolic, pastoral feel that provides some stark contrast to the more guitar heavy tracks on the album. 'World Within You' sees the band return to their psychedelic roots. The treated vocals sound hushed in the background and the guitars wail plaintively against the sound of Wood's recorder. It has an arid, sun-drenched feel about it and one wonders why it was not included on the album first time around. Both bonus tracks add something to the original album and are welcome additions that showcase different sides to the band.

Any re-release of 'Mind Control' is to be applauded, but the bonus of extra tracks make this particular release a 'must have' for psych lovers and will introduce Sun Dial to a whole new group of listeners. Along with 'Other Way Out' this album shows why Sun Dial are as highly regarded as they are. The album is released on CD by Sulatron in early December and can be ordered from the label's webshop.