Biography

Beginning with their well-received 1990 debut album, Other Way Out, Sun Dial has recreated the psychedelic sound of the late '60s with an unnerving accuracy. The band possesses a myriad of soaring vocals (and trippy lyrics to match), progressive chord changes, and some delightful acid rock guitar (plus other strange instruments). From south London, Sun Dial's roots lay with frontman Gary Ramon (guitar, vocals), previously with the Modern Art, who joined up with Anthony Clough (bass, bamboo flutes, organ) and Dave Morgan (drums, percussion). Alongside a reissue/repackage of Other Way Out, UFO released its most upfront moment, "Exploding in Your Mind." Morgan was then replaced by John Pelech, and Nigel Carpenter (bass) and Chris Dalley (guitar) were added to the line-up, while Clough took a smaller role; this was felt on the new single "Fireball," which forged a mellower, more traditional rock sound. Clough left to attend university before the release of Reflecter, which confirmed the band's new musical direction. Libertine saw better distribution through the auspices of Beggars Banquet Records, with new drummer and keyboard player Craig Adrienne helping broaden the band's sound. Ramon, Adrienne and Jake Honeywell (bass, percussion) recorded a second album for Beggars Banquet, Acid Yantra. The album, its title inspired by a D.A. Levey poem, was rabidly consumed by the band's loyal fan community as usual, and attracted some positive mainstream critical praise. The band continued recording during the 2010s, and also issued various compilations or archival releases, including Shards of God, Processed for DNA: Anthology 1990-2010, and Return Journey: The Lost Second Album Session 1991. Ramon has also run his own labels, Acme (specialising in psych rock) and Psi-Fi (specialising in Krautrock curiosities).