FANATIC

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