Jadis - Fanatic

Year of Release: 2003
Label: InsideOut
Catalog Number: IOMCD 122/SPV 085-65682
Format: CD
Total Time: 56:30:00

With Fanatic Jadis publish their sixth release, the first one on the Inside Out label.

The four-piece band is made up of Gary Chandler on guitar, Steve Christey on drums, and the well known duo from IQ, John Jowitt on bass and Martin Orford on keyboards. This fact, might lead you think Jadis are an IQ clone, but it isn't so. In fact, the main intent of Gary Chandler is that Jadis' music distinguish itself from other masters of progressive music.

So immediately it can be discovered that music by this English group is of a very particular type of prog: It's a catchy, rock based, and melodic prog. Chandler's voice reminded me a lot of Steve Winwood, and his guitar is the main instrument on the disc: his riffs and solos are the things that make Fanatic so interesting. Martin Orford plays for most of the album sound effects using mellotron and echoey synths that make me think of Genesis from time to time.

It's hard to find some highlights on this work; it's written with the purpose of giving a great feeling from the start until the end; this consideration is explained by length of the pieces: they are mid-length, in the perfect style of neo-prog.

Surely Fanatic isn't a masterpiece, but a good record, where it's difficult to find weak points.

Also released as as special edition (IOMSECD 122 / SPV 087-65680 CD)

Tracklisting:
The Great Outside (6:34) / Into Temptation (6:38) / Each & Everyday (6:09) / I Never Noticed (5:24) / Fanatic (4:04) / Yourself Alone (5:55) / Take These Words (4:16) / What Kind Of Reason (8:17) / Who Can We Be Sure Of (4:51) / Bonus Track (Special Edition): The Flame Is Burning Out (4:22)

Musicians:
Gary Chandler - guitar and vocals
Steve Christey - drums and percussion
Martin Orford - keyboards and backing vocals
John Jowitt - bass guitars and backing vocals

Discography:
More Than Meets The Eye (1992)
Once Upon A Time (EP) (1993)
Across The Water (1994)
No Sacrifice (EP) (1994)
Once Or Twice (EP) 1996)
Somersault (1997)
As Daylight Fades (1998)
Understand (2000)
Medium Rare (2001)
Alive Outside (2001)
Fanatic (2003)
More Than Meets The Eye -Special Edition (2005)
Photoplay (2006)
See Right Through You (2012)
No Fear Of Looking Down (2016)
More Than Meets The Eye - 25th Anniversary Edition (2017)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: July 7th 2003
Reviewer: Davide Guidone
Score:
Artist website: www.jadismusic.com
Hits: 2630
Language: english