Minor Earth Major Sky - A-Ha

A-ha have to be one of the most underated bands ever. Mention their name and you usually get, 'oh yes, they did Take on me' or worse' Didnt they do the original version of take on me' (after the horrific A1 cover) This album marked a return to form after the well publicised split(well not particularly well publicised but if you're a fan you will know about it) Forced back together to perform at the Nobel Peace prize concert (i say forced as you are not really gonna turn down a request like that are you?!) they reformed and produced an amazing album. The highlight for me has to be Summer Moved On, A haunting ballad with ...ready ...  Read the complete review

After breaking up in 1994 - and apparently being sick of the sight of each other - a-ha surprisingly got back together for the Nobel Peace Concert in 1998. Two years later, they returned to the charts with this album. Despite massive European success, in the UK the reaction to a-ha's return was a little underwhelming. Whilst they were able to (and still do) sell out venues such as Wembley Arena and the Royal Albert Hall, this album barely bothered the top 40, and many people are still unaware that a-ha continue to make music. The lukewarm reception need not put you of from buying this, and other, 00's a-ha albums, however. a-ha were always more than just a boy ...  Read the complete review

...that an album of this calibre has recieved little or no publicity in this country. Its a brilliant album, and had it had the same aplomb on release as 'Hunting High and Low'..then it would also probably spawn 3 or 4 number One singles as well. Lyrically, the writing is brilliant..if somewhat melancholy and pessimistic...but poetic, mature and ..intelligent. Morten Harkets vocals are incredible, He must surely be THE best male vocalist of his generation...and how much recognition for that does he get?? (what an utter disgrace!) The highs of the highlights of the album are ; the title track "Minor Earth, Major Sky",..."Velvet" which ...  Read the complete review

Now I remember A-ha as a kid in the 80s from thier classic singles 'Take on Me' and 'The Sun Always Shines on Tv' and I may have well danced very drunkenly to them in more recent times but I never expected them to produce an album of this calibre in 2000! Having almost completely exorsised the cheese of yesteryear this is a modern and stylish exersise in adult pop. Kind of cross the epic tendancies of the Verve, with some of the pop suss of Robbie Williams. As a more recent comparison think Andreas Johnson's Glorious. The production is extremely slick and creates an impressive soundscape, although at times it seems to be ...  Read the complete review

As a sad 80s-child music fan, my memories of A-ha are of the 'famous' hits. When I discovered the "best of" album, I played it constantly, with short breaks for the Duran Duran "best of" album, for about a month. And so when I found that Morten was bringing out a new album I was ecstatic. Minor Earth, Major Sky is beautiful. It's lost none of the magic of the 80s, but intensified the haunting element found in the old classics such as "Stay on these Roads" (one of my all-time favourites). There isn't a single bad track on the album, although if there is one track that ...  Read the complete review