The Rainbow Goblins

Masayoshi Takanaka’s The Rainbow Goblins (1981) is a visionary jazz- fusion odyssey that masterfully translates Ul de Rico's children's book into an immersive, cinematic soundscape. Often hailed as Takanaka’s magnum opus, the album weaves playful English narration with technical brilliance, moving seamlessly from the lush, atmospheric "Once Upon A Song" to the explosive prog-rock energy of "Thunderstorm". Takanaka’s virtuosic guitar serves as the emotional anchor, capturing the whimsical yet high-stakes journey of seven goblins with a technical precision that has maintained its status as a masterpiece of "Wamono" groove for over 45 years.