Classic Rock Jammed: Love Tractor's Green Winter

“Well, she’s climbing the stairway to heaven.” At least, that’s immediately what I started to sing when first hearing the open salvo on Love Tractor’s “Saturn Rings” from Green Winter. However, Love Tractor takes Classic Rock as an idiom, spins it around cooking sauce, and emerges with Neo-Classicism.

Mike Richmond actually sings, “Well, she’s walking out on the Saturn rings.” The song has the acoustic build up of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway,” but it also has sci-fi keyboards, 70’s funk rhythm, and a Jam Band breakdown.

This all shouldn’t be a surprise for a band that came out of Athens, Georgia, in the 80’s playing a blend of prog rock which has been described as fusion. Green Winter certain fuses those Classic elements that are recognizable from listening to hours of Classic Rock radio—although usually not found in any one band.

For instance, because you’re already in the Classic Rock mode, Billy Holmes’ flute on “Wrong Turn” immediately makes you think of Jethro Tull, but the jazzy turn on that flute echoes Van Morrison’s Moondance album even more. Close harmonies vocals and sitar-like wash on “Inventor of Worlds” brings the Byrds to mine, but then the disco dance ball bridges disrupt you from getting lost in a hookah dream. (Stepping back to Love Tractor’s own era of the 80’s, this track also has strong resemblance to the Mighty Lemondrops).

Thanks to Love Tractor and Fundamental Records for the review CD.