Review: Sun Dial - Science Fiction: A Compendium Of Space Soundtrax

Sun Dial, as everyone [should] know, are absolute legends of the UK neo-psych scene and they now seem to have a pretty sweet thing going on with Sulatron Records; Sulatron not only re-issued 'Mind Control' on CD but released the last studio album 'Made In The Machine'. This band/label combo has come up trumps once again in the shape of 'Science Fiction' and as the subtitle would indicate it is a trippy journey into the world of science fiction soundtracks. 'Made In ...' saw the band head into a more electronic/rock direction and 'Science Fiction' is even heavier on the electronic side of things. Always a band whose music has been in demand by film and documentary makers this album has fulfilled a long term plan to release a collection of unreleased Space themed soundtracks....and it is a real thing of beauty.

Opener 'Hangar 13' is a delightful melange of low humming drones, some prog keyboard work and spacey electronica that all come together to form something that would not be out of place on a 70's sci-fi B-Movie (and we all love them right?). 'White Stone' takes us right back to the sixties with some lovely organ work while 'Mind Machine' is full of groove and light and anyone would be forgiven for thinking it had been lifted from those wonderful 'Cosmic Machine' compilations of early French synth music...it is a glorious track. 'Saturn Return' lightens the tone somewhat with a lilting spacepop vibe about it...very seventies in feel and attitude. 'Space Travel' is probably the more obviously 'psych' of the tracks on show....vague hints of early Floyd float like gossamer amidst some more cosmic sounds. A neat segue takes into another sixties leaning track 'Alien X'. 'Rise Of The Robots' came as a bit of a shock in that it sounds very contemporary, very synthwave (and I am aware that that is an oxymoron what with synthwave being based on eighties synth sounds!) but it is probably one of my favourite tracks on the album...it has a haunting, desolate quality that gives it depth and gravitas. 'Airlock' is another obviously psych track, the use of sitar and Hammond organ being a bit of a giveaway but it still sits well in the remit of the album. 'Aftershock' is a catchy little number rooted in the eighties and has a gloss that almost takes it into cheesy territory but these guys are way too savvy for that to happen entirely. 'Ghost Ship' is a magnificent track...the electronica and the scattergun drums all add to the feeling of suspense and dread that pervades the track and lifts it into whole new territory. 'Infa Red' opens with some skitterish jazzy drums and the track never settles after that, constantly moving and veering in different directions. Album closer 'Starwatchers' is another that harks back to the early days of synthesised music...it has a retro vibe that is pretty irresistible. Those who buy the CD also get an extended verion of 'Hangar 13' which is heavenly.

Sun Dial have always been one of the more intelligent of psych bands (I don't mean they can do The Times crossword in five minutes..they may do....I mean they think about the music and the structure of an album and don't just 'throw it together') and this intelligence and nous is brought to bear on 'Science Fiction'. Having an obvious science fiction 'concept' to an album is rife with difficulties; it could become cheesy, irrelevant or, heaven forfend, a novelty album, but the band circumnavigate these difficulties with the skill of experienced mariners. What is most impressive, however, is that all these tracks are fantastic...they have a genuine feel of sci-fi movies about them and where lesser artists may just re-hash 'Bladerunner' Sun Dial have brought their own distinctive personality. I would say that between 'Science Fiction' and Sula's own 'The Ape Regards His Tail' Sulatron have pretty much got the whole sci-fi thing sewn up! 'Science Fiction' is available from the Sulatron Shop on CD or green vinyl (limited to 750)....go get it!