Jadis - Fanatic


Year of Release: 2003
Label: InsideOut
Catalog Number: IOMCD 122/SPV 085-65682 C
Format: CD
Total Time: 53:09:00

I listened to this album with great interest and with enjoyment. Jadis is another one of those great bands that has seemed to slip through the cracks in the immense pool of talent worldwide (at least for me), until now. With a fresh new start on the best progressive rock label on the globe and a new album called Fanatic, new listeners will come to know this fine group very soon. I must say that they have earned my respective ear.

I was immediately pleased from the opening track "The Great Outside," then from there it just got better. The similarities to Genesis (when Phil Collins took over after Peter Gabriel went off on his solo career) occurred to me around the middle of the recording session, some of you may recognize it a lot sooner, particularly after you read this review then buy the CD!

An interesting cover encases this CD. Some kind of a reptilian-like creature or being is peering out through a porthole of a ship or through a peephole from another dimension or world. I do know that the imagery below this opening creates the illusion of blissfulness whilst being watched by someone or something. I would not spend too much time thinking about all of that though, you may get a different perception of what you are going to hear on this recording. My first thoughts were that this is not progressive rock; it is more rock-pop than anything, but after another listen I found that assessment was very untrue. The post Gabriel Genesis influences that I detected brought about those thoughts.

Primarily this is a great rock band featuring some of the most melodic rock guitar and standout vocals (Gary Chandler) that you could possibly imagine; then again, the progressive leanings are there but not predominant. It is more of a sprinkling of the progressive edges, if you will, that has them teetering back and forth from one to side to other that may confuse some listeners. In retrospect, after listening twice, it all became quite clear and very pleasing after I stopped trying to figure out what kind of music it was and decided to enjoy it all for what it was worth. This is not an easy task for a prog-head or jazz fusion freak (like me). If it is not complex, let us complicate or intellectualize it, right? Well, it is not necessary to strain your brain this way. There are enough elements of rock and prog to please both sides of the fence; and although hardliner prog-rock lovers may want to blow this one off, I would encourage them to give it a fair chance. This is a great album worth a few good listens before casting any judgments upon it, based on this writer's opinion, of course. If you had not heard of the group and do not know what to expect (like me) then you have nothing to be disappointed about and everything to look forward to.

"Each And Everyday" is wonderful tune that bares witness to a very talented group of musicians able to make skillfully textured and moving music that is bound to find appreciation amongst many sophisticated listeners. Similarly, they can rock hard like on "I Never Noticed" with a driving rhythm section (Steve Christey & John Jowitt) interlaced with tastefully powerful keyboard strokes (Martin Orford) and catchy sweeping guitar riffs (Chandler). I have given you but a few morsels from a full course meal, but enough to get your appetite aroused for what is on the menu. This album's appeal is contagious ? you have been hereby officially warned of its addictive qualities and sufficiently advised that becoming a fanatic is quite probable.

This band supported Marillion on their 1988 Clutching At Straws tour! Hello? Their experience is evident on this album and I am anxious to hear some more. Hopefully Inside Out will reissue their back catalog, and if they do, I will be the first to write about, you can count on it.

[There is also available a special edition version that adds "The Flame Is Burning Out" as the last track -ed.

Released in North America by InsideOut Music America (IOMA 2057-2)


Tracklisting:
The Great Outside (6:34) / Into Temptation (6:38) / Each And Everyday (6:09) / I Never Noticed (5:24) / Fanatic (instrumental) (4:04) / Yourself Alone (6:56) / Take These Words (4:16) / What Kind Of Reason (8:17) / Who Can We Be Sure Of (4:51) / The Flame Is Burning Out*

*bonus track on special edition

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: April 20th 2003
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.jadismusic.com
Hits: 3455
Language: english

  

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