AS DAYLIGHT FADES

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).