Just saw this article coming out of a UK paper, basically it was talking about how AHA's shows are already sold out for this October and November in the UK for their new tour in support of their new CD, but then it swung around to talking to other artists about AHA's influence. Basically U2 gave it up to AHA, they said they are Amazing songwriters that always got lumped into the Boy Band type of mold by their record company in the 80's not allowing them to grow. Members of KEANE site AHA's influence on them and call TAKE ON ME the greatest Pop song of the last 25 years. Coldplay members are actually much closer to AHA than anyone, despite "stealing What they can from AHA" as members of Coldplay said, they called AHA the most underrated band of the Last 20 years. And Radiohead site Scoundrel Days and Minor Earth Major Sky as perfect CD's.

Well AHA is warming up for their new CD set to be released in the UK in Late August, and then the Tour will Begin. As of right now the USA is on hold until 2006 for the CD's Release and For any shows. The group is recording as a unit for the first time since 1984, basically they dont work together usually for a whole CD, they are producing this CD in NYC, FRANCE, NORWAY and the UK, using 2-3 Producers on this Record, the word so far is that this CD is going to be hard to cut down to one CD, AHA already have 30 tracks for the CD. This will be their first Studio CD since 2002's LIFELINES which acheived Gold, and Platnum status worldwide wherever it was released, spawning the Singles, Forever Not Yours, Lifelines (amazing Video!!) and Did anyone Approach You.

I can see the influence

These two are still my faves:

Cloudbuster said:

I saw A-ha, and I knew you'd be here!

Cloudbuster said:

So keanish

good to see a-ha getting some well-deserved props

JonSnow said:

Heres AHA 2005.....




Lets see if the USA can open its ears.

any word if their stuff will ever be reissued/remastered?

JonSnow said:

Well UNIVERSAL here in the USA signed them to a 3 Album deal, sort of like the deal Duran Duran signed with SONY, basically UNIVERSAL will have alot of work ahead of them here in the USA. AHA has not had a charted CD since 1993's MEMORIAL BEACH here in the USA, despite selling 30 Million ALbums worldwide the USA is by far their least strong point. With the Emergence of Bands like KEANE, COLDPLAY and SNOW PATROL, all of these bands have borrowed from AHA's later sound, AHA has since discarded the Keyboards of 1980's and gotten into the Acoustic sound ever since 1990's East of the SUn West of the Moon.

As of right now, the plan is for AHA to play shows overseas upon the CD's release everywhere but the USA, in September. AHA will begin a Major European tour in October and play 30-40 shows through the November and December. From there its all up to the USA. As AHA said a few years ago on their website when asked about playing in America, they said that it would cost so much to mount a tour of the USA especially with No label behind them in the USA, they would have to pay for everything themselves, and then would people show up? that was the big question, especially since AHA's last 3 CDS have not been issued in the USA, only by Import.

I havent heard of Any plans to Remaster or Reissue the AHA catlaog, although that would be a good idea to do in the USA, especially if interest in them Increases next year when their CD hits here and UNIVERSAL puts the PROMO wheels in motion, IM sure Warner Brothers which owns the early catalog will probably try to capitalize on it, kind of like EMI did when Duran Duran came to SONY.

So far nothing has Slipped out about AHA's new CD but they are almost done with it, basically just narrowing it down to fit into one cd, get ready for many Bsides in the UK. As far as what it will sound like, if U have heard AHA's last two Cd's expect to hear an even more mature sound.





AHA in the Studio in NYC!

lastdecember said:

I know nothing but "Take On Me."

I've got my row 2 tickets for wembley in December, and I cant wait!

By the way, if anyone hasn't already checked it out, get hold of Coldplays cover version of "Hunting High & Low". Its great!

SquirrelMeat said:

oooh, i've never heard this!! where can it be found?