by Stein Ostbo (translation by cindy kandolf) This weekend - perhaps as early as today - a-ha will sign a golden recording contract with Warner Music, Germany. And with that, Magne Furuholmen (36), Paul Waaktaar Savoy (37), and Morten Harket (39) will be back with the record company that once made them world-wide stars. The company has been eager to re-sign with a-ha since early March. CONTROLLING THE DETAILS a-ha's international manager Brian Lane and his Norwegian colleague Erling Johannessen, who have controlled all negotiations about a new contract - have now put a tight lid on the issue, probably because Warner wants to control for itself when the details will be made public. This control of details would seem to mean that: 1) Warner Music Germany will be investing tens of millions of kroner to promote a-ha around the world, and 2) several millions of this sum will be handed over to the a-ha members as an advance when the contract is signed. According to sources in the Norwegian recording industry, this should be among the best record contracts ever signed by a Norwegian band. VG's sources indicate that the contract is for two albums at present, with an option for a third. NEW RECORDING All three a-ha members have contributed as songwriters, and they already have eight or nine songs ready, recorded together with their old friend and colleague Kjetil Bjerkestrand, as well as Sven Lindvall on bass and Per Lindvall on drums. The brand new "Summer Moved On", which the band performed during the Nobel Concert, will be on the album, but is not under consideration as the first single. That will likely be (Paul Waaktaar) Savoy's first single, "Velvet", at least outside of Norway. The song has been re-recorded with Morten Harket's vocal, but the backing vocals from Simone of D'Sound have remained. ESTABLISHED RUMORS The plan is for the new a-ha album to be released in November, preceded by a single release at the end of September. All of these details and deadlines, which have long been established rumors among a-ha's faithful fans, can of course be changed as soon as Warner takes over the helm. a-ha's official sales figures, including major and minor releases, lie between 20 and 25 million units and includes fifteen number one hits. PAAL TO BE PAPPA It will be a busy autumn for Paal Waaktaar Savoy in any case. On the 23rd of August, Savoy's third album, "Mountains of Time", will be released. At about the same time he and his wife, Lauren Savoy, are expecting their first child. That means no touring for Savoy this autumn, since Lauren is a full member of Savoy.