Since coming together in 1982, Norwegian pop trio
a-ha have established a personal and artistic chemistry that can accommodate three strong personalities. There was a long hiatus after 1993's
Memorial Beach and a formal reunion for 2000's
Minor Earth Major Sky, followed by two more studio outings. They split again in 2010 to pursue solo careers, but reunited for 2015's
Cast in Steel. In 2021, the documentary a-ha: The Movie toured global film festivals. The band's 11th studio album,
True North, and its accompanying documentary film appear during their 40th anniversary year. The trio recorded and filmed over three weeks in a studio some 55 miles above the Arctic Circle in Bodø, with the Norwegian
Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by
Anders Eljas. Filming was done by Stian Andersen. Half of these 12 tracks were composed by guitarist
Pal Waaktaar-Savoy, with the other half by keyboardist
Magne Furuholmen. Each man produced his own work.
The set opens with its first single, "I'm In." Framed by acoustic guitar, piano, and chamber strings, singer
Morten Harket in truly iconic falsetto delivers a direct, tender lyric balm of commitment to a subject experiencing great difficulties. The drums rumble, a glockenspiel rolls around the piano, and strings swell before
Furuholmen's whispering synth joins in to carry it out.
Waaktaar-Savoy's "Hunter in the Hills" offers striking contrast. The orchestra, guided by a skittering snare, frames a swinging jazz-pop melody with an infectious chorus and sweeping horns. "As If" marks a return to more conventional pop.
Harket sings in an effective lower register, illustrated by lilting keyboards, supportive orchestral strings, a grand piano, and a shuffling drum kit. The title track is a dramatic ballad balanced equally between gently pulsing synths, piano, and orchestra, as
Harket effortlessly delivers
Furuholmen's romantic lyric. The opening acoustic guitar vamp on his "Bluest of Blue" arrestingly recalls
New Order's "Ceremony" before it evolves into a sophisticated folk round with
Harket and the composer dueting above cellos. The band joins on the second verse, and the track transforms itself a midtempo rock ballad. Immediately following is
Waaktaar-Savoy's "Make Me Understand," a dancefloor-oriented, neo-electro track combining orchestral funk, synth pop, and wah-wah guitars. The road-tested "Forest for the Trees" is the guitarist's strongest composition here. Its complex yet catchy melody is framed by brass, winds, reeds, and strings above a strident rock beat, and it's redolent with compelling lyrics, tasteful synth embellishments, and a modicum of human drama. "You Have What It Takes" is pastoral, lush, and contemplative. Alongside
Harket's singular voice, the strings and airy synths cascade around an acoustic guitar. Layered harmonies adorn the bridge with restless strings and hand percussion.
True North is not a synth pop album. It's a grown-up pop record chock-full of beautifully written songs replete with musical reinvention, sonic evolution, and abundant creativity. ~ Thom Jurek