Jadis are one of the most melodic and likeable bands of the British neo-prog scene — a warm, guitar-driven group built around one of the genre’s finest players. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their albums.

The short version

For the heart of Jadis, start with More Than Meets the Eye, Across the Water and Somersault — the run of 1990s albums on which they did their very best work. The full ranking is below.

IQ’s sunnier cousins

Formed in Southampton in 1982 and led throughout by the gifted guitarist and singer Gary Chandler, Jadis made warm, bright, guitar-driven neo-prog with an emphasis on melody and memorable solos. Their story is woven into the wider scene: their early demos were produced by Marillion’s Steve Rothery, and for much of their career two members of IQ — keyboardist Martin Orford and bassist John Jowitt — were also in Jadis, lending them a sound often described as a sunnier, more optimistic cousin of IQ. A note: the seven albums here are a selection of their studio catalogue.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing melody, songwriting and consistency. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate — and across a catalogue this likeable, the lower placements are no slight.

The essential three

At the top sits their debut More Than Meets the Eye (1992), widely regarded as their finest hour and one of the most purely melodic albums the genre produced — a showcase for Chandler’s soaring guitar. Beside it sit Across the Water (1994), a more reflective, autumnal companion piece that many fans love just as dearly, and Somersault (1997), which rounds out the trio of classic 1990s albums that made their name.

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Reliably great

The next tier is well worth your time. Understand (2000) marked the return of the ‘classic’ lineup, with Orford and Jowitt back in the fold, while Fanatic (2003) keeps the melodies and the guitar fireworks coming with real confidence.

For completists

Two later albums round out the seven. Photoplay (2006) is a polished, likeable record — Martin Orford’s last with the band before he stepped away from music — and See Right Through You (2012) shows Chandler still writing warm, tuneful neo-prog years on. Both reward fans who already love the peaks above.

A selection, in order

The albums covered here, in chronological order — a selection of their catalogue rather than their complete output. Click through to the full write-up on any record.

Where to start

Begin with More Than Meets the Eye — their most loved album and a perfect entry into their bright, guitar-led sound. From there, Across the Water and Somersault complete their golden run.

Prefer to own them? Find these on Amazon: More Than Meets the Eye · Across the Water · Somersault

The players

Jadis has been led throughout by guitarist and singer Gary Chandler — a hugely admired neo-prog guitarist and, alongside loyal drummer Steve Christey, the band’s one constant. For much of their history the lineup was completed by two members of IQ: keyboardist Martin Orford and bassist John Jowitt, giving Jadis a deep and lasting connection to one of the genre’s flagship bands. Chandler keeps Jadis going to this day.

Why they still matter

Jadis spent their career a little in the shadow of bigger names, but few progressive rock bands wrote melodies as warm or guitar lines as memorable. Closely tied to IQ and part of the same world as Pendragon and Arena, they offered a sunnier, more optimistic take on neo-prog — and in Gary Chandler they boasted one of its most distinctive players.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: read about the best Jadis songs. You can also place them in the bigger picture with our list of the best progressive rock albums of all time.

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