Search - Rainbow Theatre :: Fantasy of Horses

Rainbow Theatre was one of the most unique bands to emerge from the mid-1970s Australian rock scene. On a scene dominated by hard rock, blues and commercially minded, Countdown-friendly glam pop, Rainbow Theatre proffered a style of classically influenced jazz rock that could be practically head spinning in its intensity. While at the core was a loud rock band capable of blasting out 'Smoke on the Water' when called upon to do so, other influences as diverse as classical composers Stravinsky and Wagner to King Crimson and the Mahavishnu Orchestra came into play. Fantasy Of Horses was released in 1976 as a follow up to the debut The Armada (also due to be reissued by Aztec Music later this year). Full of symphonic grandeur, the seven-part, 22-minute title suite emerges as the band's crowning achievement - the track weaves its way through complex progressive jazz movements to minor-key classical moments, and naturally there are lashings of mellotron to be heard. Much bootlegged, this is the first authorised reissue. It has been remastered from the original tapes, and also includes a bonus orchestral excerpt from Rainbow Theatre mainman Julian Browning's follow up classical piece: Symphony No. 3. (Performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra) - packaged in Aztec Music's trademark 6 panel digi-pak with a revealing essay by noted Australian rock writer Ian McFarlane.