Original Article
By Espen A. Hansen - (Translation by Sabine Clement)
PARIS (VG) a-ha's first album in seven years, 'Minor Earth, Major Sky',
clearly aims at an adult audience that likes strong melodies.
Morten Harket, Paul Waaktaar Savoy and Magne Furuholmen have made an album
which continues with a melodic pop tradition.
The conclusion is that a-ha have delivered an album which is light and melodic
in its form, without appearing too old-fashioned or painfully modernistic.
The band members themselves state that 'Minor Earth, Major Sky' holds songs
which stem directly from demos which were made for the 'Memorial Beach' album
in 1993, when a-ha had moved to rocky and dark musical fields, and which
didn't prove to be as commercially successful as the previous releases.
VG has heard the entire album. These are the songs from 'Minor Earth, Major Sky',
in the same order as the album shows them.
- "Minor Earth, Major Sky" - 5.25 minutes (Paul Waaktaar Savoy/Magne
Furuholmen). The title track sounds like an older song in a modified,
electronified, dress. A bit pompous and swaying. Old fans will undoubtedly
recognize a-ha's signature sound.
- "Little Black Heart" - 4.33 minutes (Paul Waaktaar Savoy/Magne Furuholmen)
Melodic and melancholic pop, with both acoustic and electronic elements.
Beautiful strings. Single potential.
- "Velvet" - 4.21 minutes (Lauren and Paul Waaktaar Savoy) Previously released
on a Savoy album. Classic pop ballad. Will likely to be the album's second single
release. Radio potential. Simone from D'Sound croons in the chorus. The Oslo
Philharmonic contributes with strings.
- "You'll never get over me"- 5.40 minutes (Paul Waaktaar Savoy) Restrained and
melodic pop in a half acoustic wrapping. Strings by the Vertavo Quartet.
- "The Sun Never Shone That Day" - 4.40 minutes (Lauren and Paul Waaktaar
Savoy) Quick, light and bouncy pop/rock with a floating chorus.
- "Summer Moved On" - 4.38 minutes (Paul Waaktaar Savoy). Classic a-ha song
in a very pompouis and symphonic package. Harket vocals as the fans remember
them.
- "To Let You Win" - 4.24 minutes (Morten Harket/Håvard Rem) Slouching
and very dark song, with Harket in the dark and resigned corner. Rustic and
atmospheric.
- "I Wish I Cared" - 4.23 minutes (Magne Furuholmen). Strong electronic rhythms
with a light trip hop dressing. One of the album's most modern and a-typical cuts,
but with Harket in place, it becomes an a-ha song.
- "Barely Hanging On" - 3.56 minutes (Paul waaktaar Savoy) Slightly odd rock
song with strings and a very pompous chorus. Inspired by the Moody Blues?
- "Company Man" - 3.15 minutes (Paul Waaktaar Savoy/Magne Furuholmen) The
lyrics are surely about the German who signed up a-ha. Bouncy guitar pop with
a chorus that grows on you.
- "I Won't Forget Her" - 4.44 minutes (Paul Waaktaar Savoy) Electronic pop.
Light-footed.
- "I thought That It Was You" - 3.50 minutes (Morten Harket/Ole Sverre Olsen)
Light pop ballad, with electronic rhythms about Christmas, snow and sin - and
miracles.
- "Mary Ellen Makes The Moment Count" - 4.51 minutes (Paul Waaktaar Savoy)
The Beatles meet Jeff Buckley, or something like that. Classic pop, with
ringing acoustic guitar, piano and everything else.
The musicians are in addition to Paul Waaktaar Savoy and Magne Furuholmen,
Kjetil Bjerkestrand and the brothers Per and Sven Lindvall, together with
Per Hillestad, Frode Unneland, the Vertavo Quartet and the Oslo Philharmonic
Orchestra.