Sonic Origami

Jack Mynes (Akron, Ohio, USA) writes "I have often heard people refer to a bands realease of a great album as the band's "Sgt Pepper". I have always used the term "Their Demons and Wizards", and I'll be damned if Heep didn't do it again with this album. This album is an attention grabber from start to finish. It really pisses me off that radio stations and D.J.s don't recognize this band's awesome talent. Yes, you morons, HEEP is still alive and kicking and putting out much better music than the crap on the airwaves now days. Open your ears damn it and listen to one of the best releases in music today!!"

Lukas Jonaitis (Vilnius, Lithuania) writes "I listened this album and I think this album is the closest by its consonance to the Early Heep albums. I Like this album very much because it reminds me about Early Uriah Heep."

Steven Lewis (Burton On Trent, Staffs, England) writes "Best album in years and years and years. Bernie has proved beyond any doubt how versatile his vocal chords are. Truly a magnificent piece of work by the worlds greatest rock band. I know I am biased but, hell aren't we all when it come to these guys."

R. Michael Saemann (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) writes "What ever happened to that Chick that promised she would commit suicide if this band makes it???--Sonic rocks!! It ABSOLUTELY ROCKS!!! If you haven't got it, you're missing some Heep at their finest!! Go Mick and Boyz!! thanx"

André Startman (Eibergen, Holland) writes "I visit the concert in Dinxperlo, Holland and I bought the album. I was listening the album and said to myself this is the best one I have."

Byron Hill (Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, USA) writes "I think what we have in this disc is a direction for Heep out of the "Wilderness Years". This disc has alot of great tunes and GREAT production. I play this disc alot. Yeah it may not be a "rocker" like Sea Of Light but it still is a very good album. Keep up the great work and I look forward to seeing Heep when they can get here. Keep on Heepin'."

Mac Steagall (Hamlet, North Carolina, USA) writes "Uriah Heep's new album, Sonic Origami, was produced by legendary Pip Williams. The name "Sonic Origami" refers to Japanese origami and compares the ancient art to the studio process of shaping and refining the sound of the album. The change in Heep's sound with Williams at the helm is obvious. The album is much more polished than the previous effort, Sea Of Light.

"Is the result better? That would depend on who you ask. Sonic Origami is full of classic trademarks that Heep has become known for... lots of hammond, layered harmony vocals and heavy guitars. However, these ingredients have been presented in a new manner. The result is more commercial effort that obviously has the US radio and TV markets in mind, while still giving long time fans a satisfying helping of traditional Heep.

"The two opening tracks are certain to please Heepsters everywhere. Between Two Worlds begins with soft hammond strains and explodes with a crushing guitar riff. After a mellow midsong break, B2W gallops to a furious climax. The lyrics were inspired by the loss of band members Gary Thain and David Byron. I Hear Voices follows nicely with another outstanding riff heavy tune. The next cluster of songs Perfect Little Heart, Heartless Land and Only the Young would all feel right at home on VH-1. Heartless Land in particular is noteworthy for the beautiful melody and intricate harmonies. Harmonies are an area where Heep really excels. A more traditional Heep song, In the Moment is next with the fantasy lyrics for which Heep is famous. Question and Change are two songs linked by a common chorus. Question is a nice acoustic ballad which fades into Change an up-tempo song which then reprises back to the original chorus. Harmony vocals are tight throughout and Bernie Shaw's lead vocals really shine.

"A blues-style ballad Shelter From the Rain is a very emotional tune with a tasty Mick Box solo. Everything in Life, a song which had previously been included in the live set, is a traditional Heep up-tempo shuffle pattern tune in the vein of Look at Yourself or Easy Livin'. Across the Miles, slated for release as the first US single from the album, is a cover of a Survivor tune. In this song, Shaw's vocals soar and have a Steve Perry-type quality to them. Feels Like is in a heavier vein and the riff is vaguely similar to an early Black Sabbath riff. The Golden Palace, a song inspired by the band's tours through Russia, is an orchestra-backed eight minute epic with beautiful harmonies and acoustic guitars. Sonic Origami closes with a bonus track, Sweet Pretender, which isn't even credited on the cover. Sweet Pretender is a heavy song and an excellent one to end the album.

"Sonic Origami is a bit of a shift of musical direction for Uriah Heep, albeit a slight one. It could be viewed as merely a widening of musical styles. Certainly it would seem to appeal to wider audience while retaining the qualities fans have come to expect from the band. In the final analysis, SO is an album full of very good songs while not necessarily a typical Uriah Heep album. However, there is plenty here that will appeal to the typical Heepster."

Peeter Treufeldt (Tallinn, Estonia) writes "I have almost UH albums, but the last is fantastic for me. I am 38 now, and my all life is going with Heep's ballads. Sonic O. is a great."

George Selmeczi (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) writes "I never thought they still capable of this. I mean this cd is the one of their BEST. Since the early 70s Heep is my favorite band. After Ken left their music was not the same though I still loved them. BUT this is out of this world. Sea of light was great too but Sonic is a MASTERPIECE! This cd should be the BEST CD OF THE YEAR if not the decade. I hardly can wait for the next one and hopefully we won't have to wait long!"

Rod Ward (Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia) writes "Best album yet with this line up. Heartless Land and Across the Miles particularly my favorites. Bernie's vocals are unreal and Mick just keeps on maturing like good wine. The rest of the guys add the perfect touch to make this band one of the greatest of all time!"

Brad Duren (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA) writes "After months of waiting on backorder, SO finally found its way into my hands and into my CD player. After several weeks of intense listening, I got up the guts to review the album. Unlike many of my other Heep brethren (and sistren), I do not think that SO is as good as Sea of Light. It has its highlights, but it lacks the heavy guitar/Hammond combination throughout that, to me, is characteristic of Heep. Between Two Worlds is fantastic, and in my view, one of the best songs the band has done in some time. Great vocals, great arrangements, and a perfect blend in all aspects. I Hear Voices is okay...catchy melody, but something is missing here, although I don't really know what it is. Wordy chorus. Perfect Little Heart is again, okay. Am I the only one who thinks the melody line sounds a lot like Mistress of All Time in places? The next three songs are much better. Heartless Land is a solid ballad, with nice texturing of vocal and instruments. My only complaint is that I wish there was some heavy guitar to drive it forward after the first chorus. Only the Young is a good tune from Bolder, catchy in all aspects. Good lyric, with a nice progression in the chorus. I like the guitar/keyboard solo break that closes the song. Vintage Mick all the way! In the Moment is, along with Between Two Worlds, my favorite from the album. Great chorus and excellent in! strumental sections. I cannot get enough of this one. Change is a solid ballad, with plenty of TM-inspired lyrics from Mick. Nice string-patch solo ala Phil. Enjoyable song, almost Moody Bluesish in its sound, no doubt the work of Pip Williams, but not as good as Heartless Land. Change is not bad, although it sounds a bit like stuff from Different World to me. Again, string patches abound. Not bad, just not great, although the instrumental section is fun, particularly the belltone vocal arrangements, similar to Bird of Prey and Rolling the Rock. Shelter from the Rain is a nice change of pace, almost reminiscent of the Firefly-IV-Fallen Angel era. I can hear John Lawton singing this one. It has grown on me. Everything in Life is another winner here, with Kerslake providing his trademark Easy Livin/Weekend Warriors shuffle beat. Classic Heep arrangement. This is a great Heep song, although it is a bit short. Still, it kicks...although the guitar could be louder. Bernie shines on this song. Across the Miles is, I am sorry to say, a throwaway song. Having heard the original version by Survivor some ten years ago (which I never really liked), this arrangement just doesn't do it for me. If this is an attempt at airplay, the band is ten years behind...1989 radio, but not 1999. I would rather have heard another Heep original instead. Bernie does sing his heart out though. Feels Like sounds like Deep Purple to me. Bluesy arrangement with a catchy melody line, this song sounds great with the volume on 10. I realize that many other Heepsters just love The Golden Palace, mentioning it in the same breath as other Heep classic epics such as The Magician's Birthday. I am not one of those Heepsters. This song, in my opinion, just lays there. Phil does some nice string work, but I find myself waiting for the song to kick in with some heavier guitar and Hammond...but it never happens. Sorry friends...this is the epic that should have been...and was not. Too bad, as there is a lot of room for development here, with a nice structure and a soulful vocal from Bernie. The bonus track, Sweet Pretender is another bluesy rocker ala Deep Purple. This song is a great Heep shuffle that would have been a much better addition to the album instead of Across the Miles. As other reviewers have mentioned, it is a stronger closer than The Golden Palace.

Overall, SO is a solid effort with some great songs interspersed with some good to so-so cuts. I miss the heaviness of Sea of Light and overall, I think the guitar could have been turned up on every cut. Pip Williams did a good job producing, but the guitar needs to be more up-front in the mix. Still, the band shows that it has the ability to rock with the best of them. I can only hope that an American label will give Heep some distribution. This is as good if not better than the stuff coming out of other "classic" rockers today, such as BOC, Deep Purple, and Nazareth. SO is a solid effort...but it falls short of being placed among Heep's greatest works. As Dennis Miller says, that is just my opinion...I could be wrong. :-) LONG LIVE HEEP!!!!!"

James W. Mihelakis (Sydney, NSW, Australia) writes "A masterpiece.
Finally bought the CD in Japan, and after months of waiting and expecting can honestly say this is a real gem. Sometimes the air of expectation can lead to disappointment , but not with SO. Some great upbeat tracks, super rhythms, charming ballads and moving lyrics. Whilst there is no weak track, the highlight for me is GOLDEN PALACE, with all members of the band contributing. Congratulations on a tremendous album!!!"

Vincent (Vinnie) Lagana (Roveredo in Piano, Pordenone, Italy) writes "I think Vinnie Vittiburga of Brooklyn (by the way, I am originally from Brooklyn also) sums it up very well. I know something about it, at present, I am Uriah Heep's concert photographer. Not only are they a GREAT band but, they are true, sincere, caring, and genuine human beings. Just like their music is!!"

Daniel Reichberg (Göteborg, Sweden) writes "WOW!

I know many people think Sea Of Light is the best Heep album of the modern age, but Sonic Origami is even better! The guys are such GREAT songwriters, and their musicianship still seems to be improving. I can't wait to see them on tour.

HEEP - COME TO SWEDEN!

By the way, add some Fallen Angel songs to the live set!

Cheers!"

Hendrick Otto (Murray, Utah, U.S.A.) writes "Sonic Origami is a great album, Between Two Worlds and I Hear Voices are fantastic, but there seams to be too many soft songs on the cd, although they are great songs and I do enjoy listening to them they are not Look At Yourself-type of songs. I love Uriah Heep. I have every album they have ever put out. I think if Uriah wants to get back on the map there needs to be a more heavier sound like Against the Odds or Shadows of Grief. The heavy sounds are what the people of rock like to listen too. That's why the new Creed cd is such a hit here in the states. Don't get me wrong, Sonic Origami is a great cd but it lacks the heavy songs Uriah is known to put out. Do you remember Shadows of Grief? Hendrick Otto... Uriah Heep fan for life!"

Rune Langfjæran (Mosvik, Norway) writes "There are only two potensial classics on this album: Between Two Worlds and The Golden Palace. The rest of the tracks are nice, and would have fitted perfectly in 1988. I'm afraid Heep are ten years late on this one. The two mentioned tracks, however, are better than most, even though the synth "fillers" on the chorus of The Golden Palace don't fit in at all!"

Todd M. Pence (Fairfax, Virginia, USA) writes "Uriah Heep's twentieth studio album contains elements of all the ones that have gone before it. The songs flow smoothly into one another in a way that hasn't been seen probably since the glory days of the seventies. While SO isn't perfect, it does achieve the level of excellence expected of a band capable of such works as Sea of Light and Raging Silence. Highlights include Question and Change, a pair of linked songs that are classic Heep in every way down to and including the Hensleyesque lyrics. Heartless Land, another in the line of Heep's classic power-ballads and Across The Miles, the latest of the band's sterling covers. But the creme de la creme of the album is the masterful The Golden Palace, an epic track worthy of the likes of Salisbury, July Morning, and The Magician's Birthday. For the most part, this disc is as close to classic Heep as one can expect a band of the nineties to sound. While Mick and Lee are the links to the classic lineup, it is the efforts of Bernie and Phil (doing a great job attempting to fill the huge shoes of Dave and Ken) who are helping keep alive the Classic Heep sound."

Daniel Bristow (Swindon, Wiltshire, England) writes "What a wonderfully cohesive and top notch album, the best by this lineup. Bernie Shaw's brilliance as a singer has always been underated by the wider rock audience as the present Heep have never had quite the backing behind them to publicise them fully (especially in the UK!), let's hope this changes! The band are on top form and the true test is that I keep wanting to play it, a life enhancing record indeed. Many thanks to all who contributed to such a superb record.."

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