Original Article By Bernt Erik Pedersen - (Translation by Sabine Clement) Paris (Dagsavisen): Magne Furuholmen grins and chews on a carrot while the European swarms around him: "This is work," he smiles. And a-ha will work hard, from now on. The launch party for a-ha's seventh album 'Minor Earth, Major Sky' attracted about 200 journalists and people in the biz from 16 different countries, as well as eight TV stations, Brazil's Globo TV included. On April 17, the album will be released in the whole of Europe (except the UK). "It feels all right to be together with Morten and Magne again," says Paul Waaktaar-Savoy. Of the trio, he's probably the one who's most ironic and keeps the biggest distance from the whole hullabaloo. And he underlines that this time, a-ha can operate more independantly from the music biz's machinery. "We do not need to fight to get what we want, because we've become better at subtle persuasion" says Waaktaar-Savoy. And the art of talking will be needed in the future. Today, the three will be interviewed from 10 in the morning until late in the evening, whereas the next three months will be dedicated to heavy European promotion. "This time, I'll have more fun. That's the only way to get through this," Magne Furuholmen says, and points at the chaos around him, at the Paris night club Monkey Club. Those invited got a pre-hearing of ten of the thirteen album tracks, which includes, among others, a new version of the Savoy song 'Velvet', and one song which has Paul's wife Lauren Savoy singing with Morten Harket: 'You'll Never Get Over Me'. The big challenge now, is to sell the album to a new audience. The people in the biz are of the opinion that a-ha won't get anything for free. Many think that the interest in the comeback isn't as big as Warners hopes it is. 'Summer Moved On' has gotten some airplay on German radio stations, but even in Norway, it has merely reached the 22nd spot in the radio charts. a-ha are at the same line as many other eighties' heroes who have tried for a comeback those past few years. Only a few have made it. "I think it is possible for a-ha to be successful on the German market," says Olaf Furniss. He's an editor and German correspondent for the biz-zine FONO, which reports on the European music industry. "In Germany, obscure old rock stars can continue to sell many concert tickets. A pop band as good as a-ha won't have any problems with gaining an audience. But the challenge is to reach a new audience. They have to build up a new fanbase, so that they won't end up as a retro band," Furniss stresses. NO INTEREST "Through the European Free Record system, I haven't noticed much of an interest for the new a-ha album," Pauline Van Den Hool says. She's responsible for the purchases at the Norwegian branch of the music store chain, which also has branches in Finland, Belgium and Holland. "They can barely expect to sell by their name alone. I think they over-estimate their importance in other countries. They have to realize that they'll be regarded as an unknown band, together with all the others. To sell the album, they need two hit singles," Van Den Hool thinks. And the British record market is already lost for a-ha. At least, that's the opinion of Andy Strickland, editor for Dotmusic, the web version of the leading British magazine Music Week. "The British record buyers are young, they are not interested in what happened three-four years ago. Let alone what happened 10-15 years ago. Many of those over 30 will remember 'Take On Me', and will be curious about a-ha's present sound. But adult pop is the most difficult market in Great Britain," Strickland says. And he comes with a suggestion: "Maybe a-ha should have written an album and have it sung by Andreas Johnson or another young chap, so that it would appear to be new and exciting?"