FANATIC

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This is the only Jadis album I own, so I can't relate it to any of their earlier recordings. Great vocals, I like Gary Chandlers voice. He is a good guitarist. Solid rythm section. The bassist and drummer lock in tight. Need more lead keyboard solos or maybe add a sax/flute player. It lacks fire and dynamics. The music is too static. Very slick production. Reminds me of GTR and Marillion, although I like the vocals much better. This is prog-light. Tunes your wife won't mind listening to.

Prosaic

Jadis make good solid prog, and this album is no exception. They don't really progress as such, "Fanatic" could have been made at any time in their career. The vocals, keyboards and guitars will all sound familiar to anyone who's heard any of the previous Jadis albums. This is not said by way of criticism, the music is as usual melodic, and well performed.

There are traces of Yes, Marillion, Genesis, and especially Pendragon. The tracks are not particularly long, there's no epic piece or multi-section opus, the nearest they come is on the 8 minute "What kind of reason". The tracks do however have more than just basic song structures, although for me a bit less of the vocals and a bit more of the guitar and keyboards would have made for a vast improvement. The one instrumental track is the title track, a softer atmospheric piece, with very moody waves of sound, and some fine guitar.

In all, a solid if unexciting album, which will satisfy those who already know of Jadis, and enjoy their work.

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.

I usually called this band as "Half-IQ" as 50% of band members are being active members of IQ, i.e. Martin Orford (Keys) and John Jowitt (bass). The band leader Gary Chandler is an excellent guitar player and songwriter who does lead vocal role in most of the band's albums. The music of Jadis has always been pigeon-holed as neo prog even though (my view) is not typical neo prog music. What do you expect from neo prog band? Killing melody, soft and symphonic keyboard work plus a bit of Floydian guitar solo. It's not the case with Jadis. Most of their music is in hard driving rhythm with medium to fast tempo and not that many tempo changes.

With this album you will hear a combination of uobeat tempo track and some with slower ones and all of them have chock full of guitar solos and rhythm - sometimes in Floydian style and sometimes with a rockier one. Some energy driving like opening track "The Great Outside" (6:34) and "Into Temptation" (6:38) are good examples of how good the guitar playing of Gary melted into the music, and also solid bass lines by John Jowitt. But this album also offers what you typically expect from neo prog band: soft / mellow music that increases into medium-heavy music like "What Kind of Reason" (8:17). The music flows peacefully with some Floydian guitar style. In addition to excellent guitar player, Gary Chandler is also a good singer.

Overall it's a good album that combines the sparks of Gary Chandler guitar work combined with inventive bass lines by John Jowitt and symphonic keyboard by Martin Orford. Keep on proggin' ..!

Progressively yours, GW

'Fanatic' is the 5th studio album from Jadis, and their first since signing to InsideOut Records. While in some ways it continues the natural progression from 'Understand' (2000), in other ways it marks a subtle departure. Although I personally think this to be a strong, clearly defined album, it also seems to send the message that the early style adopted on 'More Than Meets The Eye' will not be replicated, and as such I feel that 'Fanatic' sits right on the boundaries of neo-prog, and as a consequence perhaps has less to offer 'Marillion' and 'Arena' fans than previous releases, leading instead to a more MOR release, which critcs would say at times wouldn't seem out of place on Radio 2.

The first thing to strike you is that the album has a very polished production, helped by the fact that many of the tracks drift seemlessly into each other, in more of a Floydian sounds cape, than we have previously been used to. In keeping with this, there appears to be a greater use of keyboards and synthesised technology to create the atmosphere, whereas Chandler's guitar, which had once soared above the rhythm section in a manner becoming of Latimer or early Hackett, now is more sparing and at times subdued. This to me seams to take the album nearer to 'Division Bell' territory, at times.

As a consequence of this, I find it more difficult than on previous recordings to suggest 'highlight' tracks, because while there are no particularly weak offerings, in the most positive sense, there are no tracks that standout either. The opener, 'The Great Outside' is one of the most upbeat on the album, with crunching guitar riffs alternating with light trademark Chandler licks. It isn't until the album's closer, 'Who Can We Be Sure Of' however, that this kind of power is employed again, where during this, possibly the album's heaviest track, the tempo is at it's quickest, with bombastic guitar chords and drums more prominent than anywhere else on the album.

Between these tracks, 'Fanatic' drifts elegantly through 'Into Temptation', which surprisingly employs slightly muffled vocals and distorted guitar in the chorus to create an etherreal atmosphere. 'Each & Every day' is a ballad which uses vocal harmonies, both from Orford, and Julia Worsley, whose voices aid the keyboards in softening the mood prior to the track's crescendo. This is quite effective, and I feel that the tone of the album would have benefitted from using Julia on other tracks.

It isn't however until you reach 'Fanatic', a dreamy keyboard driven instrumental, overlaid by weeping Gilmouresque guitar virtuosity, that you realise how subtle yet unrelenting, Jadis' metamorphosis has been; this is quite different in tone from others they have done, and poles apart from 'Holding Your Breath' on their debut album. This dreaminess is underlined on 'Take These Words', and the 8 minuter, 'What Kind Of Reason', demonstrating the evolution of the band. To sum this up, 'Fanatic' is a highly accomplished, polished and creditable album, which I could recommend, however it wasn't quite what I had expected, and leaves me intrigued as to Jadis' future offerings.

Fanatic is fantastic?

This is an excellent production. Gary Chandler is dominating all the tracks with his voice and good guitar work. Absolutely unique and I cannot find much similiarities to IQ.

You can hear this from the beginning to the end without being bored. I'm sure - every fan of Rock Music will enjoy this too.

My highlight is 'What kind of reason' which reminds me at Kansas. It begins as a ballad with acoustic guitar and then grows with every minute to one of my favourite prog-songs in 2003.

You gotta love the warm vocal stylings of Gary Chandler,not to mention the way he plays guitar.And when you add John Jowitt and Martin Orford into the mix,we should have a four or five star record.But in my opinion we don't,i just don't know why.Should John and Martin been given more prominance? Was this record rushed? Or maybe it's just me? I feel that half of the songs are just ok and the others range from good to excellent.Highlights for me are "The Great Outside" that opens with acoustic guitar and sampling that gets totally blown away by an explosion of drums, guitars,everything!This song features a great guitar melody and wonderful vocals."Each and Everyday" is a terrific slow tempo song with outstanding vocal melodies.Then there is the title song "Fanatic" a powerful and emotional instrumental that is my favourite on the record."Yourself Alone" is all about the vocals."Take These Words" is a good uptempo song with soaring guitars,i really like the main melody.A good album,but JADIS have done better.

Three albums in six years. This is not a furious rhythm of course for "Jadis". On their behalf, two of their members are busy as well with "IQ" and maybe more attention was dedicated to the later band...

The best "Jadis" times are IMO their debut album (in the Special Edition form), and a very good EP "Once Upon A Time". After these, some good live releases and that's it actually.

And this one won't change my overall feeling. If you except two very good songs of which the title track and "What Kind of Reason", the offering is rather dull and too much similar to previous works.

"Fanatic" features a superb and spacey intro. Miles away from the global AOR / hard feeling during most of the other songs. Great guitar break (at last) from Gary. Emotion at its best for this instrumental track. The first highlight of this CD. It could have been the first movement of something brilliant.

But, alas! It will just be a short breathe of fresh air into this ocean of heavy and uninspired songs like "The Great Outside" which is really close to hard-rock and featuring dull vocals (which has never been the strenght of this band to be honest : a poor opening number full of clichés).

To name them would be as good as naming almost all songs from "Fanatic". But "Into Temptation and "Yourself Alone" are probably the worse you can expect from this album. The poppish "Take These Words" being not great either.

The secong great song being "What Kind of Reason". Some delicate instants in this maelstroem of weak stuff. Nicely built (from acoustic guitar and passionate vocals to a somptuous melody with wonderful instrumental parts (keys and guitar). The second highlight.

This is somewhat a useless effort. Very little great guitar moments as we have been used to, melodyless songs for most of them. For die-hard fans only. Two stars.

I checked out the review averages so far of all the Jadisalbumreviews and what strikes me most is the low averages. Jadis hardly reaches a total average of 3.5 and I think that's a bit low for such a high-quality band. I realize it's all a matter of taste and then I have to conclude Jadis isn't very popular, there are very few reviews for each album, that's another fact. Maybe it has someting to do with the discussion whether Jadis is prog at all, a discussion that's also relevant for Gary Chandler himself I read in a recent interview with him. He wanted to abandon the progressive world and be regarded as more mainstream rock if I interpreted him well. It never bothered me if his band is really progressive or not. I'm just interested in quality, especially the melodic aspect of music. And Jadis scores very high to me in that department.

So too with this album. It starts off with the two strongest tracks, particularly Into temptation is one of their best ever. Then two lesser tracks follow before the very nice instrumental title track is next. It continues with two average, recognizable Jadis songs before it's time for another jewel: What kind of Reason. This is a superbeautiful ballad with an unbelievable guitar solo by Chandler. This is really such a song you'd better save for special occasions so it remains really special. It ends with another typical Jadis song: Who can we be sure of ?

Conclusion: One of the better Jadis albums, though not the best. Still: 4 stars to me.

Were it not for a couple of songs, I would have given this album a 1-star rating.

This is neo-prog at its worst. A genre I like and a lot when done well (ARENA, MARILLION, IQ, among many others) can be the synonym of boredom if played with so much lack of will and originality as in this record by JADIS.

The songs Fanatic (with a very good guitar solo near the end, nothing incredibly original but very proggy) and the one that follows, Yourself Alone (with it's moderately memorable music) are the only highlights in an album that's as bland and uninspired as any.

Not only is the music totally un-original (we've heard this music hundreds of times before) but it's also weak, dull, lacking any element that could make it interesting. The songs lack hooks, there are no good choruses, no memorable verses, no riffs or acoustic passages or even progressions that we can say we will remember 3 minutes after listening to the whole album.

On top of that, the music lacks energy, lacks strength, lacks life. All sounds the same, with no dynamics, with nothing that makes us FEEL anything. This is perfect background music. But progressive- rock should never be good for background music, as one of the things that we love about it is that it forces us to listen. JADIS forces us to listen, yes... but to whatever else is producing sounds other than the speakers or headphones.

The musicicans are capable, the album is perfectly-produced, but as said before, the music is generic neo-prog. Even the singer sounds like a generic neo-prog singer, much like PALLAS' vocalist, but without the character of the Scottish band's frontman, and especially, without the good music that that band is able to create.

Two songs save this album from being in the bottom group of albums I own and have reviewed. But don't let the rating fool you: the album is bad, is not a disaster because it has a few redeeming elements, but it's nowhere near real GREAT albums in this neo-prog genre which has given us lots and lots of truly outstanding pieces of art.

This is not one of them, for sure.