FANTASY OF HORSES

This reminds me of a quote I read from am early 70s Italian prog musician, how the fact that they usually didn't think they would get a chance at second album, so they would throw everything that they could come up with on that one record. The same applies here. Yes, Rainbow Theatre did have two albums. But this one seems like they want to cover every symphonic and jazz related prog base.

Caption for the city night life seems a perfect encapsulation of the whole - bass & drums going full tilt, the horns blasting away, at one point quoting Thus Spake Zarahustra, then a breakdown reminding one of King Crimson's jazzier work. Then to finish off the piece, that 70s cliche - the drum solo. Remember Peart's little percussion outing on Fountain of Lamneth, this is its' poor brother. And actually, as I mention that album, I could almost say this one is a jazz/symphonic version. Just not as interesting. Too many frenetic pieces, interspersed by mediocre and unoriginal melodic piano & vocal pieces. The whole seems contrived as a conservatory music student's final exam piece. Not bad, but, well ... just not good.