AS DAYLIGHT FADES

Excellent live offering from the great Jadis. Although not recorded with the classic line (that included IQ members John Jowitt and Martin Orford), you hardly miss that at all. In fact, I like this CD a lot more than Live Outside (with Orford and Jowitt). Actually both new members Steve Hunt (bass) and Mike Torr (keyboards) have a similar style of playing of their precedents, which is no small feat, since it is very unlikely to see anyone steping into their shoes (but they did). I wonder where Gary Chandler found them...

Anyway, the recording sound is top notch, crystal and the band is absolutely superb on stage (Chandler in great form!). If you saw them playing live or on the View From Above DVD you know what I mean. The repertoire is very strong, drawn from their early best albums and including 3 tracks from their forthcoming studio CD Summersault (again the strongest cuts from this one too). The Daylight Fades version here is much better than the one recorded on the DVD (at least they played in full).

Their best live CD so far from one of the best neo prog bands of all time and quite superior to Alive Outside. If you like live albums, this one is highly recommended.

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).