They Did It Nor-Way

Loved by Coldplay and U2, and with a new album produced by New Order’s studio whiz, A-Ha are cooler than ever. To celebrate the fact, they talk Paul Lester through their nine albums

A-Ha may have sold 36 million albums and millions of singles around the world in their 27-year career, many of them to screaming girls, but to dismiss them as a glorified boy band would be to do them a severe disservice. And you’d also have the likes of Coldplay, U2, Keane, Oasis, Morrissey and Bloc Party – all self-confessed A-Ha fans - to contend with. In fact, with their dolorous synth-heavy Europop, their lyrics wracked with existential doubt and melancholy windswept melodies, the Norwegian trio are a sort of entry-level Joy Division for depressive teens/tweens. Don’t be fooled by their pin-up status – A-Ha have consistently produced superb electro-pop records that merit contention alongside the best of Depeche Mode and New Order.

“All music that’s meaningful is pain-condensed,” asserts Magne Furuholmen, A-Ha’s keyboardist. “Happy music makes me very sad. People find consolation in the fact that someone can articulate conflicting feelings and turn them into some sort of beauty. That’s the attraction of Joy Division’s music to me - it’s really beautiful.”

Has making A-Ha’s music been therapeutic, affording them an opportunity to exorcise all their negativity, sorrow and angst?

“Well, you say …

by Paul Lester
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