The last release before this one, 2012’s ‘See Right Through You’, was seen as one of Jadis’s best albums, and rightly so. But, for me there was a key element missing and at least for this album, he’s back. Jadis has had some great musicians play with them over the years, but it has always been built around the voice, guitar and songs of Gary Chandler, and he has been aided and abetted for more than quarter of a century by Stephen Christey on drums. These two were joined by Andy Marlow (bass) and Arman Vardanyan (keyboards) for the last album after the departures of the IQ boys, but although Andy is still there, Arman has left to be replaced by the incomparable Martin Orford. This is Martin’s third stint with Jadis, and it is wonderful to see him back again, as I know from conversations with him some years ago that he had felt the need to leave the scene and was planning never to return. But, one thing led to another, and here he is again, rekindling a relationship with Gary that is very special indeed. I was lucky enough to see Jadis play live quite a few times, both with and without Martin, and also caught some of Martin and Gary’s duet gigs, which were always incredible.
Although this album was released towards the end of 2016 I have only just got my copy, and to say that it I something I have been eagerly awaiting is something of an understatement. But would it live up to expectations? Of course it would. From the first note to the last, this is solid, classic Jadis. They are a band that sound like no other, and have kept true to their roots for many years, with everything built around the vocals and guitar and then layered and built from there. The drums have a rawer sound than normal, while Andy’s bass is quite a long way back in the mix, but with Gary and Martin harmonising vocally, and providing the backdrop for each other musically, this could only ever be Jadis.
I only have a few criticisms, namely that the album is only forty-five minutes long, we had to wait four years for it, and they’re never likely play New Zealand so the chances are I’ll never catch up with them in concert again! While this is playing, I am transported to another world, and I am just so pleased to have yet another Jadis album that I can return to time and again. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait quite so long for the next one, as yet again this is quite superb.
