A-ha Ending on a High Note - CD Review

The mid 1980’s saw the likes of Bon Jovi, Wham! and Duran Duran competing for the top positions in the music charts. In 1985, Norway’s A-ha joined them with their debut album “Hunting High and Low”, reaching 2^nd in album sales. A-ha became the first Norwegian band to have a number 1 song in the U.S with the incredible “Take on Me”, who’s video had me spellbound as a kid. As a result I have “Hunting High and Low”, “Scoundrel Days”, “Stay on these Roads” and “Headlines and Deadlines” nestling in my CD collection.

But as they say, “all good things must come to an end”, and that end happened on the 4^th December inOslo. “It was always an adventure”, says Magne Furuholmen. “It could have lasted two years, it lasted more than 25. No one can ask for more.” So as their finale, the last concert was recorded and released in multiple formats.

As a long time fan, their selection of tracks for their curtain call is perfect, ending on a poignant note with the track that arguably started it all off. Only when you listen to every track do you realize just how solid A-ha were in releasing good material. Morten’s vocals are often imitated terribly in a light hearted manner, but there’s no denying, he has an incredible range, and with the songwriting capabilities of Paul and Magne, it’s just synth-pop perfection that hasn’t been emulated successfully thus far.

Personal favourites are “Hunting High and Low” (which the by the sounds of it, the audience liked getting involved in too!), “Manhattan Skyline”, “The Living Daylights”, “Stay On These Roads” and “I’ve Been Losing You”. For a live show, the sound quality is excellent, and conveys some of the atmosphere of what was a “fond farewell” tour where you can hear just how hugely talented the trio are. A-ha have indeed bravely chosen to end on a high note.