TRACTOR
self-titled (Ozit/Orpheus)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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This is a reissue of a really rare album by an obscure British band, or rather a duo of Jim Milne and Steve Clayton. It was originally released on John Peek's Dandelion label in 1972, and this 30th anniversary edition has six bonus cuts, including a couple of new tunes. This is kind of hard to describe, but for a two-man group they made quite an amazing sound! Some of it reminds me of early Hawkwind and Black Sabbath mixed with Tyrannosaurus Rex and Raga Rock sounds! There's droning kind of guitar work, fuzz guitar blasts and all sorts of odd percussion. This is "space rock" in the best sense: ethereal, engaging and even with the lengthiness of certain songs, it's not boring or too "progressive" either. The extra tracks include some new material, including one song recorded with Nik Turner of Hawkwind, and show that Tractor are just as vital sounding as they were 30 years ago.

[Pick this up at www.geocities.com/uheep2/ozit.htm.]

© 2003 - Alan Wright