New Wave Outpost Forum

Although the Berlin press conference isn’t until Wednesday, the big news is already out: the members of a-ha have signed a new deal which commits them to at least two years of new a-ha activities.

Jan Omdahl has done an extensive 10-page comeback interview with the band, which is printed in Dagbladet‘s weekend magazine today.

“I believed and wanted a-ha to be a finished chapter. But it’s possible to change your mind. I said it was over, but I was wrong”, Magne says in the interview.

It all started with Paul testing out a few of his songs together with Morten, just to see if some of it could be used in various settings. But it turned into something more.

“When Morten and Paul started talking about working together again, I had three options: refusing it altogether, let them do it without me, or join them. Refusing to join them didn’t feel right”, Magne says.

The three of them are currently working on new a-ha material. One of the new songs is called “Mythomania” and was written by Magne.

“I feel I have a few killer songs ready, that could potentially turn into a really good album. But there are always a few adjustments made when we get together. (…) All of us like to be a bit bossy, so we must try to end up in a position where we don’t ruin things for ourselves”, Paul says.

In addition to recording a lot of new material with Morten recently, Paul has also written and recorded at least 50-60 songs in the last few years.

“Me and Lauren have a new Savoy album almost ready, while my own solo album is all finished. I have also written and produced an album with Jimmy Gnecco’s daughter, Zoe, which I’m hoping will be relased later this year.”

i really like a-ha,

but their last good album was 'memorial beach'. and even scoundrel days, stay on these roads,
and east of the sun west of the moon, were all just ok.

their last few albums since then, have only been ok.

they are just milking the fans, and when they said they retired, they should have meant it.

i guess all those people that supported them, and paid lots to see them, don't matter now that they are still around.

i'm looking forward to the Deluxe box-set of 'hunting high and low', and thats about it.


any new album, tour, etc, is just them cashing in.

later
-1

Have to say i've never heard so much rubbish negative1... My fav A-ha album was their last (and final lol) album 'The foot of the mountain'. Also their farewell single was awesome that being 'Butterfly butterfly'. All their singles (many European only) since reformation have been fantastic. Love 'Minor Earth major sky' and their huge hit 'Analogue'. Velvet was as awesome track too. I have all their albums.
Regards A-ha 3, yes i entirely agree. 5 years away after retirement does take the p more than a little from a 'farewell tour'. Many artists take longer than that to follow up an album whilst 'active' lol. Examples Kraftwerk, The Human League, The B-52's. That's not to say i'm not looking forward to A-ha 3!!
Also looking forward to the new Deluxe editions

I have a few of their cds.

I think that they are very under-rated.

Think that their return is welcome.

Neil Kelly wrote:Have to say i've never heard so much rubbish negative1... My fav A-ha album was their last (and final lol) album 'The foot of the mountain'. Also their farewell single was awesome that being 'Butterfly butterfly'. All their singles (many European only) since reformation have been fantastic. Love 'Minor Earth major sky' and their huge hit 'Analogue'. Velvet was as awesome track too. I have all their albums.
Regards A-ha 3, yes i entirely agree. 5 years away after retirement does take the p more than a little from a 'farewell tour'. Many artists take longer than that to follow up an album whilst 'active' lol. Examples Kraftwerk, The Human League, The B-52's. That's not to say i'm not looking forward to A-ha 3!!
Also looking forward to the new Deluxe editions

I agree with you on this, and I don't see it as a cash-in. I'm sure they collectively felt at the time of their breakup that they were "done," but they've had some time, and maybe all they needed was a break. I think they made great albums all the way to the end, so I'm confident we'll get another strong set of songs from them. Hopefully they'll tour the US again; I'd like to see them one more time.

I think it's great they're returning. I loved each and every one of their 2000's albums, especially their last one, and I can't wait to hear new music! I guess they'll have to reissue their 2011 live album with a new title though.

i think its sad to see a band that started off so great, go into such a downhill spiral.

at some point they have to realize that people only want to see them play their hits, like at rock at rio.

no one is really interested in their latter songs or albums,
and morten can never hit the same notes or sound like he did in his prime.

listening to the live albums is painful at times.

sorry if i'm harsh, but the bands from the 80s need to move on and realize they are done,
which i thought the had done earlier, but money speaks a lot.

they have become just another 80's retro dinosaur.

later
-1

Well, my take on it is that I'm certainly very interested in any archival releases they put out, esp. the Deluxe Editions of early albums. If the new material they create isn't to my liking, I simply won't buy it. I certainly wouldn't begrudge anyone else from the chance to hear new music from a-ha.
Music artists and groups do this all the time - "retire" and then come back a few years or so later. Nothing new here - sometimes it's great, sometimes it's tired and lame. Who knows how this will turn out? I hope it works out great for the band and us fans!

negative1 wrote:i think its sad to see a band that started off so great, go into such a downhill spiral.

at some point they have to realize that people only want to see them play their hits, like at rock at rio.

no one is really interested in their latter songs or albums,
and morten can never hit the same notes or sound like he did in his prime.

listening to the live albums is painful at times.

sorry if i'm harsh, but the bands from the 80s need to move on and realize they are done,
which i thought the had done earlier, but money speaks a lot.

they have become just another 80's retro dinosaur.

later
-1

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree then. Can see the point (maybe) on Morten's vocals although i'm not convinced he could ever replicate the studio stuff in the live arena. Certainly 'Cry Wolf' is always played very different to the recorded version.

I actually have no problem with the many solo projects from all the band members.

In fact, there are decent songs on many of them.

The problem I have is with them trying to capitalize on basically one or two hits they had back in the 80s, at least here in the US.

They could have been a lot bigger and done more, but it didn't happen.

Later
-1

negative1 wrote:i think its sad to see a band that started off so great, go into such a downhill spiral.

at some point they have to realize that people only want to see them play their hits, like at rock at rio.

no one is really interested in their latter songs or albums,
and morten can never hit the same notes or sound like he did in his prime.

listening to the live albums is painful at times.

sorry if i'm harsh, but the bands from the 80s need to move on and realize they are done,
which i thought the had done earlier, but money speaks a lot.

they have become just another 80's retro dinosaur.

later
-1

Sorry but that's all a pile of crap. They may not have been very successful in America but they were almost everywhere else and every album they released since their comeback in 2000 has been excellent.

it sounds like their comeback is only for one album.

wow, can't wait to see another farewell tour.

brilliant plan.

later
-1

a-ha aren't hanging around, they have already completed the album and tour dates have been booked! Album "Cast in Steel" due out in September and German tour dates for April next year. It is produced by Alan Tarney, who was the producer of a-ha's 80s albums. He is 70 though and hasn't done much since a-ha.

Those news sound laughable. Never thought they'd go that "farewell tour - comeback" path, thought they'll keep their dignity - but no. Sad.

I wonder what prompted their comeback? Surely it can be for any creative reasons - after all they only excelled on their debut, after all it was consistently a couple of hits + lots of filler and self-indulgent stuff on every album. What do they have to say? Not much, admittedly. Then why do this? To make people pay attention to their solo stuff (lots of it seems to be conviniently ready...)? Or do they simply have bills to pay?

Anyway I don't believe they can deliver anything worthwile and this move seems to be very pointless.

Foot of the Mountain was pretty good.

The should have called the new album "Never Say Never"