Product Description
A-Ha, Norway's masterminds of pop music, return to their classic synth sound on 13 July 2009 with the release of their ninth studio album Foot Of The Mountain on Universal Music Record Label.

Almost a quarter of a century since the band burst onto the scene with the unforgettable 'Take On Me', the A-Ha sound has come full circle returning to the driving synths, strong melody and melancholic lyrics that first captured the hearts of the UK.

Morten Harket (Vocals), Magne Furuholmen (keyboards) and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (Guitar / principal songwriter) have amassed world-wide record sales of over 36 million, and with this, their ninth studio album in a 24 year career, Morten explained, "It was about time that we reached out a little more." Following the critical acclaim of their 2006 album "Analogue", A-Ha return with an album inspired by their original synth sound, sitting comfortably in 2009 alongside the likes of Little Boots and La Roux.

Opening with the galloping charge of 'The Bandstand', the album quickly defines itself with the keyboard intro before Morten's instantly recognisable vocals announce their return. Melting into the Arcade Fire influenced 'Riding The Crest' which Paul describes as "electro blues", the album flows into the melancholic What There Is before thundering back into the stunning single and title track 'Foot Of The Mountain'. With other tracks like Shadowside and Sunny Mystery incorporating the most driving and contagious beats and lyrics of A-Ha's career, Foot Of The Mountain is an album that cements A-Ha's position in the world of pop.

Foot Of The Mountain is simply summed up by Magne: "This is an unashamedly passionate album, it's up-tempo but not exactly upbeat. In short, it is what A-Ha do best."

The album, recorded between Autumn 2008 and Spring 2009 in New York, Oslo, Hamburg, Stockholm and Bath, was produced by A-Ha, Steve Osborne (New Order, Placebo, Suede, Elbow), Erik Ljunggren, Roland Spremberg and Mark Saunders and mixed Steve Osborne.

1. The Bandstand
2. Riding The Crest
3. What There Is
4. Foot Of The Mountain
5. Real Meaning
6. Shadowside
7. Nothing Is Keeping You here
8. Mother Nature Goes To Heaven
9. Sunny Mystery
10. Start The Simulator

Amazon USA:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BSI6UU/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002BSI6UU/?tag=imwan-21

I'll be at the head of the line for this one.
The title track is the first single. It went to radio last week in Norway. The album should also include the two new songs that a-ha unveiled last May in London, "Riding the Crest" and "Shadowside," the performances of which have been available for awhile on YouTube. "What There Is," an eary solo track by Magne, has also been re-recorded for this CD. The producer is Steve Osborne (New Order, Starsailor, U2).

Here's the CD single, due in stock at Amazon USA as an import on June 2nd:



Product Description
EU two track pressing of this single from the popular Norwegian trio, lifted from their 2009 album Includes the Radio Edit and the Album Version of the title track. Universal.

1. Foot of the Mountain - Radio Edit
2. Foot of the Mountain - Album Version

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028LC8WW/?tag=imwan-20

Track listing:
1. The Bandstand
2. Riding The Crest
3. What There Is
4. Foot Of The Mountain
5. Real Meaning
6. Shadowside
7. Nothing Is Keeping You Here
8. Mother Nature Goes To Heaven
9. Sunny Mystery
10. Start The Simulator

This disc is excellent. The first six tracks could all be singles. There may not be anything that quite reaches the heights of "Analogue"'s title track, but it's probably a better CD overall. I was amazed to see that you can buy it now -- even in the US, and in dollars! -- as a download direct from the a-ha Web site:
http://www.a-ha.com/Store/Product.aspx?id=BM000244-000

This is the first time I have seen an artist whose CDs aren't released in the US anymore do this. I hope others will follow and also allow for the eventual "overseas" purchases of bonus tracks, b-sides, etc.

(Of course, completist that I am, I will have the physical a-ha CD here from the UK in a few weeks, too.)