Jadis are one of the great cult heroes of British neo-progressive rock — a Southampton band who emerged from the same scene and social circle as IQ and Marillion, yet forged a warmer, sunnier, more guitar-driven sound all their own. Formed in 1982 and led throughout by singer-guitarist Gary Chandler — whose melodic, Hackett-inspired playing is the heart of the band — Jadis took their name from a character in C. S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew. Here is every Jadis studio album, ranked from worst to best.

The short version

At the top sits their sunlit breakthrough More Than Meets the Eye (1992), with the reflective Across the Water close behind and the strong Fanatic not far off. At the other end, the latter-day albums tend to divide even the faithful. The full ranking is below.

How we rank them

This is one fan’s honest take on Jadis’s studio albums — we have set aside the early demos collection, the live albums and the compilations to focus on their proper studio releases. We weigh melody, musicianship, atmosphere and that unmistakable Gary Chandler guitar sound. The facts are accurate; the order is where the arguments begin.

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The lower reaches

9. No Fear of Looking Down (2016)

A steady, guitar-driven latter-day album that offers more of their trademark melodic neo-prog. Comfortable and pleasant, but among their least essential. A minor entry.

8. See Right Through You (2012)

A latter-day album that keeps the Jadis formula intact, with Chandler’s guitar again to the fore. Enjoyable and consistent, if it rarely surprises. A likeable if minor record.

7. Photoplay (2006)

The last album to feature Martin Orford before his retirement from music, a polished, mature record that plays to their melodic strengths. Pleasant and well-crafted, if a little safe. A dependable late entry.

The middle of the pack

6. Understand (2000)

The album that marked the return of Orford and Jowitt after a spell away, a warm, confident record that reconnected with their classic sound. Solid and satisfying throughout. A welcome reunion.

5. Somersault (1997)

The third album, deepening their sound with richer arrangements and a touch more ambition. Consistent and rewarding, if a shade less immediate than the first two. A strong peak-era entry.

The upper tier

4. More Questions Than Answers (2024)

Their long-awaited recent album, and for many the best thing they have done since their debut, with Martin Orford back on keyboards. Warm, assured and full of classic Jadis melody. A remarkable late-career triumph.

3. Fanatic (2003)

One of their strongest later albums, polished and confident, with some of Chandler’s most memorable guitar lines and hooks. A high point of their post-90s catalogue. A superb return to form.

The masterpieces

2. Across the Water (1994)

The reflective, more subdued companion to the debut, trading its summer-day exuberance for a warmer, dusky evening glow. Beautifully melodic and a fan favourite in its own right. A near-masterpiece.

1. More Than Meets the Eye (1992)

The masterpiece: their sunlit breakthrough and one of the most melodic neo-prog albums ever made, built around Gary Chandler’s gorgeous, Hackett-inspired guitar and warm, uplifting songwriting, with Martin Orford and John Jowitt of IQ rounding out the lineup. Bright, joyful and endlessly hummable. The definitive Jadis album, and the place to begin.

Every Jadis album, ranked

The full ranking at a glance, best to worst.

Where to start

New to Jadis? Begin with More Than Meets the Eye (1992), their sunlit breakthrough and finest hour, and its reflective companion Across the Water (1994). From there, the strong Fanatic and the acclaimed recent return More Questions Than Answers await. Few cult neo-prog catalogues are this warm or this melodic.

The verdict

Jadis have never quite escaped the shadow of the bigger neo-prog names — IQ, Marillion, Pendragon, Arena — yet at their best they are the equal of any of them, offering some of the warmest, most melodic and most guitar-forward music the genre has produced. Anchored throughout by Gary Chandler’s soaring, Hackett-tinged playing and the loyal drumming of Steve Christey, they remain one of British prog’s most underrated treasures, and are still going strong four decades on. Whether you begin with the sunlit masterpiece More Than Meets the Eye or its reflective companion Across the Water, there is a wealth of melodic, uplifting prog to discover here.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: count down their finest tracks with the best Jadis songs, browse our pick of their best Jadis albums, or head back to the full directory of every prog band’s discography, ranked.

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