AS DAYLIGHT FADES

Jadis another band trying to sound a bit like old style Marillion. Again its most of all the singer that fails to reach that. The music can be great. Listen for example to the bombastic song nr 10 'Holding your Breath' and you sure will fly away and just love the crying Floydshe guitar. The other songs do not come to this level again. I miss many times the good melody and even if I think they have found it, the band soon starts again a new sound, a new rythm and new melody.

The album "As dailight fades" is the best work made by Chandler and the boys from the band. Alive performance completely perfect with a sound and armonic music to enjoy...really shows the power and passion of compositions made with the soul and played with a lot of technice, skillful movements and changing rhytms. These features provide to the auditioners a LIVE album progressive from the toes to the head. It´s needed to any prog lover or rocker collectionist.

'As Daylight Fades' was recorded at one of Jadis' now legendary outdoor gigs in the New Forest, Hampshire, in 1996, two years prior to it's official release. Chronologically, it was recorded after the completion of the first two studio albums, but also after the departure of both Orford and Jowitt, who left to concentrate on the time consuming production of IQs 'Magnum Opus', 'Subterranea', (although Martin 'Iffy' Orford does make a guest appearance toward the end of the show, to play flute on 'More Than Meets The Eye').

The line-up on this recording was made up of Steve Hunt (Bass) and Mike Torr (Keys) who were also involved in recording 'Somersault', which was still a work in progress. As a result, it is understandable that 5 of the 7 tracks from their ground breaking debut album are employed here, with a further 3 (and probably the best) from 'Across The Water', with only the completed 'Batstein' and 'Falling Away' given an outing from 'Somersault'. As such, 'As Daylight Fades' presents us with a highly commendable live summary of Jadis' early output, at a concert which has exceptionally good production, and sees Chandler in fine form.

It may be considered a disappointment that Orford and Jowitt are absent on this recording, but frankly this is no disaster. Although Jowitt is one of prog's finest bassists, I can't help feeling that he was always under-utilised in this light, guitar driven vehicle for Chandler, while the same is true to a lesser extent of Orford, although he had a knack of allowing his dreamy keyboards to float above Chandler's licks. It might also be said that Mike Torr's backing vocals are quite weak, and not as in tune as Orford.

What is more definite however is that although 'Batstein' and 'Falling Away' are in themselves great tracks (the highlights of 'Somersault' in my view), they certainly stand out as having employed a slightly heavier, darker style with more bass, and 'crunch' in the guitar; a style which only saw brief experimentation. To sum up, of the two live offerings from Jadis, this would be the one I would suggest you go for; it's beautifully packaged, and offers an altogether stronger track listing.

Excellent live offering from the great Jadis. Although not recorded with the classic line (that included IQ members John Jowitt and Martin Orford), you hardly miss that at all. In fact, I like this CD a lot more than Live Outside (with Orford and Jowitt). Actually both new members Steve Hunt (bass) and Mike Torr (keyboards) have a similar style of playing of their precedents, which is no small feat, since it is very unlikely to see anyone steping into their shoes (but they did). I wonder where Gary Chandler found them...

Anyway, the recording sound is top notch, crystal and the band is absolutely superb on stage (Chandler in great form!). If you saw them playing live or on the View From Above DVD you know what I mean. The repertoire is very strong, drawn from their early best albums and including 3 tracks from their forthcoming studio CD Summersault (again the strongest cuts from this one too). The Daylight Fades version here is much better than the one recorded on the DVD (at least they played in full).

Their best live CD so far from one of the best neo prog bands of all time and quite superior to Alive Outside. If you like live albums, this one is highly recommended.

This first "Jadis" live album is a very good one. Half of the songs come from their debut album "More Than Meets The Eye" which is IMHHO their best one. So, no wonder that I like this live set. I am just disappointed that the wonderful "Follow Me to Salzburg" from their first EP is not featured. It is one of my fave from "Jadis". "Wonderful World" from their debut would also have deserved to be here. Anyway...

Most of the songs are faithfull to the original. A little bit harder probably. The sound is absolutely great and even if I have always found that Gary Chandler was a bit "short" to be a lead vocalist he does substantially better on this live record than in the studio.

There is one unreleased album track which will give its title to this album : "As Daylight Fades". It won't even be featured on "Medium Rare" a compilation of rare material. It's nothing really to write home about. A mellow prog ballad with a great guitar break.

Even the songs coming from "Somersault" ("Batstein", "Falling Away") and from "Across the Water" ("In Isolation", "No Sacrifice") sound pleasant although the latter two are the weakest of the whole.

An average track ("The Begining & The End") from their debut will shine on "As Daylight Fades". Thanks to a wonderful and emotional guitar solo from Gary. I am really touched although I could not be very enthusiast with the studio version. And there is no thing better than " Holding Your Breath" to close this very good live set. The absolute highlight with, as usual, a great work from Gary on the guitar.

If you would like to discover the work of "Jadis", I can only recommend this live set. It is superbly recorded, all songs are very well played (even better than the original for several of them) and Gary's guitar work is simply phenomenal.

Seven out of ten. Rounded up to four stars (momentarily since there might soon be possible to rate with half stars).

Best live album of the band

Recently their two live albums "As Daylight Fades" and "View From Above" became available for internet downloading, so I hope that these albums will be heard by as many prog fans as possible. This live album is, in my opinion, perhaps the best live one among their album catalog in terms of song selection and the play. Opening track "Sleepwalk" is the song all the prog fan must listen to, and the other songs will make you feel and assure that "the prog is ROCK". In this sense, this album is close to "Yes Songs" which is full of "rock" atmosphere.

I do hope that you give it a try. For me it's 4 star.