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Jadis has released a CD that lets a grittiness into their
sound, a grittiness that is well known to fans who have seen
the band live. Taking the better part of a year to write and
produce, Chandler thrived under the pressure of creating this
CD on a deadline. That pressure squeezed out a diamond. ***
Photoplay contrasts other Jadis releases in that the CD
sounds more like a band that actually rocks while performing.
In comparison to Fanatic, Photoplay abandons the idea of a
concept CD and reflects a more direct homage to the Trevor
Rabin period of Yes. Tightly composed solos seal the joints
on the songs of this CD more deftly than Jadis (Gary Chandler)
has ever done so in the past. ***
Far from formulaic, Jadis manages to create an open sound
that feels like a sunny day, yet fails to bore any perceptive
listener. Concerned with the crafting of lick-driven songs
that actually rock, Chandler avoids the overly-introspective
approach by other prog bands bent on creating epic-length,
super-intricate songs heralding to ELP and early Yes constructs,
songs that can be tiring for the listener who simply wants
to enjoy a good, solid rock song with progressive elements.
The label neo-prog stems from this commitment to creating
listenable, easily approachable progressive rock. ***
"There's a Light"
Opens the CD with a strong, heart-stopping lick that truly
rocks. Keyboards soar into the song much like a heavy Deep
Purple cut. Drums on this cut stand out as actually having
some verve. Gary even allows his voice to carry a bit of urgency.
***
"What Goes Around"
Starts with a guitar lick that Gary looped with his Pro-Tools
software. The song is a fabulously crisp, edgy rocker with
textures to keep your ears tickled. While the nod toward eighties
prog and ultra-clear guitars remains a Jadis mainstay on this
cut, the increased use of distortion pedals grants this song
some great power chord moments with grind. ***
"Asleep In My Hands"
Will shock the traditoinal Jadis fan with a full-throttle
opening of off-the-charts drumming and galloping guitars launching
the song into genuine, heartfelt rock. A great driving song.
***
"Standing Still"
Is a contemplative, meditative song built once again
on a simple guitar lick. This song is more like the Jadis
from More Than Meets The Eye, but stands out as more genuine
than similar efforts from early Jadis. ***
"I Hear Your Voice"
Opens with a gentle synth line of three chords, whispering
behind a furiously-controlled rhythm line, eventually settling
into a jazzy, bounding ballad. Chandler's decision to employ
a space-like sound to the guitars here does not decline into
a U2 piece of noodling, but breaks into yet another series
of strong power chords. At times, this song can remind the
listener of The Tubes during their Completion Backward Principle
era, yet the piece engages the listener with more deftly-crafted
musical moments than The Tubes ever performed. ***
"Make Me Move"
Initially sounds like an awkward piece. Borrowing from
a pseudo-Fripp series of chordal modalities, Chandler has
created a multi-layered song that stands on songwriting, not
the production trickery King Crimson slips into at times.
While some could cite Chandler for forcing a musical issue
here, the repetition of solid, melodic lines anchors what
could be simply a cacophony of moody sounds to a thematic
musical statement. ***
"Who I Am"
Returns to lush sound for which Chandler has become known.
Employing jazzy exchanges and syncopated bridging to construct
the piece, Chandler keeps true to his traditional Jadis approach,
but the production allows a bit less smoothness into the sound,
creating a more organic texture to the music. ***
"Need To Breathe"
Opens with a simple series of power chords on an acoustic
guitar, breaking into an eerie progrock song full of strong
bass licks and searing drums. There's even some shredding
here. A great rocker. ***
"Please Open your Eyes"
Follows a line of rhythm that simply drives what could
otherwise be heard as an overly-simple cut. Chandler displays
his mastery of what makes rock and prog enjoyable on this
song. ***
"All You've Ever Known"
Again presents an acoustic opening mixed with dream-like
synths. The song eventually releases entirely into the dream.
Very gentle and melodic, this song highlights Chandler's interest
in layering a song without losing its sensibility. ***
"Photoplay"
Is an instrumental cut, an unusual closing cut for Jadis.
The song opens with a slow fade-in of synths and bass. The
guitar, produced with an echo and set on a medium level of
pedal distortion, sounds like its down the hall or in an empty
concert hall. While this may sound like the song could become
cliche or simply creepy, the piece carries a great amount
of heart and passion. ***
Passion may be the overall theme to this non-concept CD.
While this is still sounding like a Jadis effort, the sheer
immediacy of the sound and the grit that Chandler breathes
into this CD marks it as one of the best CD's Jadis has released.
***
Worth the buy. Highly, highly recommended to Jadis fans
and new listeners of prog or Jadis.
Grade: A
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