MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

"Jadis" released a very good debut album. Not a masterpiece of course but a solid start. Even if some "IQ" members sit here we won't get a poor man's "IQ" album. "G 13" is fully remininscent of this good band as well as "Sleepwalk". Its structure is very similar to countless "IQ" songs but and it is one of the highlights. Most of the tracks are easy to listen to (but I do not mean easy listening music).

Guitar is more prominent than in "IQ" which I quite like, and Garry Chandler does a pretty good job on the vocals (his guitar play being just brilliant).

"Genesis" is the model for several songs of which the well-named "Wonderful World". It is indeed a very good track which should please a lot of progheads. It is sufficiently diversified to be of interest. The balance between keys and guitar is perfect. I would have liked to get this more on "IQ" work BTW. It gets real strong during the instrumental middle part. Strong but not hard. The guitar work is so melodic, so inspired. One of the highlight of this album. Wonderful music.

The sweet flute intro of the title track is another touching moment of this album. Here again, "Genesis" ("Trespass") is really close. A very peaceful and pastoral number. Somewhat derivative, I admit. But I have always liked this type of music (well, the love story started with "Trespass" in 1974). Lots of emotion when I listen to such a track.

"The Beginning and the End" is probably not really on par. It sounds as if Gary wants to emulate PG. Music sounds totally like "Genesis" again with some pleasant instrumental passages but weaker vocals.

The closing number starts as lots of long "IQ" tracks : a lenghty instrumental intro with a harder attack (guitar in this case). It is well constructed and when the climax has been reached some beautiful acoustic guitar / keys emerged and prepares the finale with again very effective guitar. This is a fully instrumental song which closes the album on a good note.

Three stars.