OTHER WAY OUT

It's incredible how this 1990 release sounds like it came straight out of 1968. This sounds so authentic with the fuzzed out, wah wah guitars along with the spacey manipulated vocals and trippy sound. SUN DIAL is the project of vocalist and guitarist Gary Ramon who's from England. Like Steven Wilson he was a one man band recording music until he decided he wanted to play his tunes live and that's how this band came about. This is the debut. And speaking of Steven Wilson there are a couple of songs on here that would fit perfectly on "On The Sunday Of Life" which was recorded a year or so before this one. This sounds like Syd Barrett era PINK FLOYD overall, acid psychedelia and I like that we also get some flute and organ.

"Plains Of Nazca" was the first song I heard from SUN DIAL and I was shocked at how much this sounds like PORCUPINE TREE's "On The Sunday Of Life". I mean even the vocals sound like Wilson. We get organ and more to start in this hazy, psychedelic beauty. A beat and bass joins in as this trips along. Vocals after a minute. This is so good! Just close your eyes and groove to the music. Pulsating organ around 2 1/2 minutes as the vocals step aside. The guitar replaces the organ after 3 minutes, nice bass too as the vocals return. Themes are repeated and I'm glad this plays out for 7 1/2 minutes. Great start!

"Exploding In Your Mind" has down-tuned fuzzed out guitar as bass then drums and vocals join in. Some ripping guitar on this one as it plays out. On the chorus he cries out "Clouds exploding in your mind". "Magic Flight" has strummed guitar and melancholic flute to start as it builds. Bass, drums and manipulated vocals join in this hazy sounding tune. Flute to the fore at 1 1/2 minutes as it builds then the guitar starts to solo. Vocals are back in this tripped out piece of psychedelia. Great sounding flute and guitar with the latter dominating late.

"She's Looking All Around" is a top three song for me along with the opener. Dual guitars, one electric one acoustic as spacey vocals join in around a minute, bass too. This is another drugged out sounding tune and this one trips along for over 9 minutes. Catchy as well. Love that flute around 3 1/2 minutes but the guitar is back leading a minute later. Vocals are back before 6 minutes then the guitar leads again after 8 minutes.

"World Without Time" is coming. My final top three. I like the dual guitars like at the start of the previous track as the vocals join in. Drums, percussion and fuzzed out guitar to the fore around 1 1/2 minutes. Vocals are back with those trippy lyrics. Flute before 3 1/2 minutes then the guitar leads before the vocals return before 5 minutes. "Visitation" is a short tune with spacey vocals, drums, bass and electric guitar. This sounds really good and the guitar is so tripped out. Vocals are back after 2 minutes.

"Other Side" has this catchy pulsating organ as the bass, drums, guitar and vocals join in. You can't help but move to the music here. The guitar solos after 2 minutes then the vocals return. Pulsating organ again before 3 1/2 minutes. "Lorne Blues" ends it with fuzzed out guitar, bass and a beat. Love the guitar here and vocals don't arrive until after 3 minutes.

One of the best from 1990 although it wasn't a great year for adventerous music I'll say that. Still a solid 4 star album that really impressed me. For fans of Syd.