Album Notes

The opening track 'Touch' really rocks! If you like Prog. Rock with a modern edge, this band are for you.
The second outing from Jadis and again great playing from Gary Chandler (guitars / vox), Stephen Christey (drums), John Jowitt (bass) and the ubiquitous Martin Orford (keyboards and flute).
The album builds and builds with all members giving solid and reliable performances. Solid bass and Christey's drums although hardly "flash" really generate power particularly on the final "The World on Your Side" and "No Sacrifice" where he just goes for power.
Chandler and Orford decorate this album with some great textures - for me Orford is one the finest rock keyboard players ever!
Get this and the first album "More Than Meets the Eye" and you'll get great rock.
'Across The Water' is the 2nd studio release by Jadis; a difficult project to undertake after the critical success of their debut 'more than meets the eye'. Perhaps part of it's success was down to the fact that much of the material had been under construction as far back as 1989, and Gary Chandler and co had had plenty of time to rehearse and furnish the material with technical detail.
From the opening, melancholy cry 'I can hear you across the water....but your touch is miles away' in the intro of 'Touch', through to the repetition of the same at the finale of the album closer 'No Sacrifice', for me, there is not a poor track in between, and plenty of infectious hooks to tap your fingers to, as the band members give ample evidence throughout of how well they gel together. The pace is consistently upbeat through the two opening tracks, 'Touch' and 'In Isolation', with some excellent guitar work from Chandler, a format which is replicated in 'The World Is On Your Side'.
The album contains two ballads, 'Daylight Fades' and the shorter 'A Life Is All You Need'. Despite it's length, the latter seems to offer more in terms of breadth and variety, with haunting use of Cor Anglais and Oboe, while Martin Orford takes to his flute, to create a sound which would please fans of the debut album. Of the remaining tracks, 'Everywhere I Turn' is a slightly quicker tempo, commercial track with synthesiser solo, accompanied by standard power chords. For me however, the album closer, 'No Sacrifice' is possibly my favourite Jadis track, as it stretches Chandler's voice, containing great vocal harmonies between Martin Orford, Josien Obers and Ken Bundy, and as a possible consequence, is one which has always proved popular at live shows.
So far I am familiar with all songs Jadis has ever produced, usually composed by Gary Chandler himself and I have to say I have not yet heard a real poor one. Of course it's always the case that some songs are better than others but the quality difference in Jadis songs is very little. Recently I read in an interview with Chandler why this is: he produces songs or parts of songs in quite a significant number but he only uses the best parts/best songs for the albums that is also the reason he sometimes produces one album in 3 years. He is quite choosy in what will end up as an album song.
A very good example of this fact in Jadis'music is their second album Across the water. This one contains seven songs but they are all of a very high standard. Some of the songs are related to each other (Touch & No Sacrifice) but they are also fairly similar. Not very fast, quiet songs with - as usual - great guitarwork by mr. Chandler. Absolute highlight to me is In Isolation, a brilliant composition: Jadis at its best. As mentioned the rest is hardly any less. So I can give only 5 stars, it's fully deserved.