BABOON ENQUIRIES

The origins of Jadis can be found in early-80's,when their only consistent member guitarist/singer Gary Chandler found the band in Southampton in 1982.The original line-up included also Trevor Dawkins on bass, Mark Ridout (ex-Lens) on drums and Les "Ledge" Marshall (ex-Lens) on guitars.The band gigged around Britain and finally put up a 40-min. cassette release in 1984,entitled ''Baboon enquiries''.

Unfortunately the sound is rather bad in here,close to a mediocre bootleg,showing a young band trying to mix more commercial cuts with some prog-influenced tracks.It is clear already from Jadis' early days that their sound would be guitar-driven,based on Chandler's talent along with the help of Marshall.The first three-four tracks are actually in a more straight rock vein,far from the prog aesthetics,with even some bluesy touches here and there,a few nice guitar moves,mostly closer to early RUSH than any prog band,finally with little to offer to the dedicated prog fan.Still the raw and rebel sound of the early-80's British prog movement can be traced at moments.The fifth track ''Dragons extra'' finally sees the band on track,this is again a mostly- guitar driven number with a more complex sound and some fine breaks,again influenced by RUSH,this time by their mid-70's/early-80's period.Chandler voice is this time easily recognizable and the rhythm section is in great form,check the ending section.''Baboon enquiries'' contains also the long 10-min. ''The Wood Between the Worlds'' and this one clearly shows the influence of the most British Neo Prog bands of the time: GENESIS.Balanced between strong lyrical moments and professional musicianship with HACKETT-influenced guitars and finally some mellotron samples and synths added in,this composition is melodic,adventurous and representative of the later JADIS' sound,a great number indeed.The final short two tracks are a huge dissapointment.With a humourous edge,JADIS rework Rafaella Carrá's ''A far l'amore'' in a very amateur recording,recorded rather in a room than at a studio or live.

''Baboon enquiries'' is a decent archival nowadays release of the early and long forgotten JADIS days,which actually shows a band developing as the tracks are placed in here.However it is far from anything particularly interesting,except for the long track of the second side.