Review of Uriah Heep: Gypsy

Introduction

Uriah Heap have been around for over thirty years now, and unlike most other 70s rock bands, have managed to keep going, with new albums released fairly frequently - there are some gaps, but the group generally manage one release per year. This concert was recorded in 1985 in London, a time described as the group`s "middle period".

Musically, the group are a traditional British rock band, with a familiar sound, and like so many other old rock groups, they released their most acclaimed material at the start of their careers, and they have largely been living off their reputation for years.

Video

It`s a another new Sanctuary disc, which means that it features NTSC video (so if your equipment is not multi-standard, you`ll be watching in black and white at best). As I`ve said before, this shows a lack of commitment to the UK market, and Sanctuary should have made the effort to convert the video to PAL.

Yet another rock concert DVD with a very dull stageshow with some lighting, some close-ups of the drummer/guitarist/vocalist variety - pretty dull.

As with the other Sanctuary DVDs I`ve reviewed recently, the picture quality is average, nothing special, and nothing to cause concern (aside from the NTSC of course).

Audio

The soundtrack comes in a choice of Dolby Digital 5.1 music or Dolby Digital 5.1 "audio review" from Dave Ling.

Despite the 5.1 tag, the soundtrack is primarily centred on the front stereo pair, with very low-level use made of the rear channels, (very akin to Dolby Pro-Logic in fact) - you`ll have to press your ear to the speakers to hear anything. The sound is also a little compressed at the top end, with cymbals sounding very wishy-washy. The bass is rather flat and lifeless, but at least the vocals can be heard over the music.

Features

The disc includes the set list and a brief introduction.

Conclusion

In the midst of numerous 70s rock bands vying for your attention, Uriah Heap really don`t have anything special to offer, with a fairly unexciting line up of songs, and nothing really memorable. On the other hand, the band obviously have a loyal following as they release new material annually - and for fans of the group, this disc gives fans of the group a chance to see them perform in 1985.

The Video and sound are both average, and there are no extras. Add this to the relatively short running time of 60 minutes, and this disc doesn`t represent much value for money. Also remember that the video is NTSC.