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, 16-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.

 

 


Rainbow Theatre

Fantasy Of Horses

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AVSCD011
Barcode: 9336043001119
SRP: $24.95
Release Date: April 05, 2006

Tracklisting:

1. Rebecca
2. Dancer
a) Staircase
b) The Big Time
c) Spin
d) Theatre
e) Farewell
3. Caption For The City Night Life
4. Fantasy Of Horses
a) Early Light
b) Frolic
c) Trappers
d) Captives
e) Frolic
f) Escape
g) Cliff Edge

Bonus Track:

Julian Browning
5 . Symphony No. 3 (F
irst Movement)

MP3 Samples: Rebecca Caption For The City Night Life Symphony No. 3 (First Movement)
 

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 main- man 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.

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