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Track List
01) The Bandstand
02) Riding the Crest
03) What There Is
04) Foot of the Mountain
05) Real Meaning
06) Shadowside
07) Nothing Is Keeping You Here
08) Mother Nature Goes to Heaven
09) Sunny Mystery
10) Start the Simulator
11) Foot of the Mountain (remix)
Cd 2
01) Foot of the Mountain (Erik Ljunggren remix)
02) Foot of the Mountain (Boheme 7" remix)
01) The Bandstand
02) Riding the Crest
03) What There Is
04) Foot of the Mountain
05) Real Meaning
06) Shadowside
07) Nothing Is Keeping You Here
08) Mother Nature Goes to Heaven
09) Sunny Mystery
10) Start the Simulator
11) Foot of the Mountain (remix)
Cd 2
01) Foot of the Mountain (Erik Ljunggren remix)
02) Foot of the Mountain (Boheme 7" remix)
4:02
4:17
3:43
3:58
3:41
4:55
3:17
4:09
3:31
5:18
4:49
4:51
6:57
Data Complete
80%
Total Rating
80%Total Rating
(2 users)
Back Cover
CD Art
3D Case
3D Thumb
3D Flat
3D Face
3D Spine
First Released
2009
Synthpop
Excitable
Rock/Pop
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Album
0 copies
Album Description
Available in:
Foot of the Mountain is the ninth and final studio album by the Norwegian pop band A-ha. It was released on 19 June 2009 and reached No. 1 on the German Album Chart and No. 2 on the Norwegian Album Chart. In its first week in the UK, the album debuted at No. 5, their highest chart placing in that country since Stay on These Roads in 1988.
The overall sound of the record marks a return to the synthpop style the band became famous for in the mid-1980s. Keyboardist Magne Furuholmen describes the album thus: "It's an album that incorporates the key elements that first defined the band: soaring vocals, synth hooks, yearning lyrics and melodic melancholia."
Foot of the Mountain was A-ha's last full length album before their split in 2010. However, they did release a further compilation album "25" with their last single "Butterfly, Butterfly (The Last Hurrah)").
User Album Review
A-Ha bowed out in 1993, usurped in teen bedrooms by Take That, and in the charts by novelty rave; it was not their finest hour. Seven years later, they reappeared with the wistful Minor Earth, Major Sky. Their ninth album Foot of the Mountain is a welcome return to the electronica of their early hits and a glorious reminder of their soaring melodies.
Since their return, A-Ha Mk 2 have distanced themselves from their 'pin-up period' with anthemic, chiming guitar pop, so it is ironic this album returns to their debut sound. For most bands, returning to their roots involves stripping back on studio polish. For A-ha, it is the opposite and dance producer Steve Osborne brings an early 80s Depeche Mode sheen to elegant, simple riff-led, songs.
The sad heart at many of A-ha songs is often overlooked, and here Real Meaning unfolds with a plaintive piano motif and brilliantly dispenses with a chorus; it's heart breaking, as is the strings-soaked Shadowside. Despite lyrics that probably make more sense in Norwegian, there's a profound yearning throughout, suggesting Scandinavian winters cut more than cheekbones. Most importantly, Morten Harket's voice, already a national treasure, has matured, competing with the late Billy Mackenzie for pop's greatest voice.
As with earlier work, Morten has not contributed to songwriting, which judging by recent efforts is a shame. However, his increasing eccentricities have resulted in songs about orchids. Their solo careers are evidenced by occasional jostling for the microphone, though Pal and Mags successfully underpin Morten with weighty melodies such as on The Bandstand, which has most in common with Take On Me.
The title track is assuredly Keane-esque, but the album is not perfect. There are moments of poor judgement such as the shaky combination of a Rough Guide to Space Travel and Bontempi organ on Start the Simulator. However, while continuing their trend for imperfect albums, this brings A-ha mk2 full circle, dovetailing so neatly with their original sound that it is difficult to see where they go from here.
External Album Reviews
None...
User Comments
Available in:
Foot of the Mountain is the ninth and final studio album by the Norwegian pop band A-ha. It was released on 19 June 2009 and reached No. 1 on the German Album Chart and No. 2 on the Norwegian Album Chart. In its first week in the UK, the album debuted at No. 5, their highest chart placing in that country since Stay on These Roads in 1988.
The overall sound of the record marks a return to the synthpop style the band became famous for in the mid-1980s. Keyboardist Magne Furuholmen describes the album thus: "It's an album that incorporates the key elements that first defined the band: soaring vocals, synth hooks, yearning lyrics and melodic melancholia."
Foot of the Mountain was A-ha's last full length album before their split in 2010. However, they did release a further compilation album "25" with their last single "Butterfly, Butterfly (The Last Hurrah)").
User Album Review
A-Ha bowed out in 1993, usurped in teen bedrooms by Take That, and in the charts by novelty rave; it was not their finest hour. Seven years later, they reappeared with the wistful Minor Earth, Major Sky. Their ninth album Foot of the Mountain is a welcome return to the electronica of their early hits and a glorious reminder of their soaring melodies.
Since their return, A-Ha Mk 2 have distanced themselves from their 'pin-up period' with anthemic, chiming guitar pop, so it is ironic this album returns to their debut sound. For most bands, returning to their roots involves stripping back on studio polish. For A-ha, it is the opposite and dance producer Steve Osborne brings an early 80s Depeche Mode sheen to elegant, simple riff-led, songs.
The sad heart at many of A-ha songs is often overlooked, and here Real Meaning unfolds with a plaintive piano motif and brilliantly dispenses with a chorus; it's heart breaking, as is the strings-soaked Shadowside. Despite lyrics that probably make more sense in Norwegian, there's a profound yearning throughout, suggesting Scandinavian winters cut more than cheekbones. Most importantly, Morten Harket's voice, already a national treasure, has matured, competing with the late Billy Mackenzie for pop's greatest voice.
As with earlier work, Morten has not contributed to songwriting, which judging by recent efforts is a shame. However, his increasing eccentricities have resulted in songs about orchids. Their solo careers are evidenced by occasional jostling for the microphone, though Pal and Mags successfully underpin Morten with weighty melodies such as on The Bandstand, which has most in common with Take On Me.
The title track is assuredly Keane-esque, but the album is not perfect. There are moments of poor judgement such as the shaky combination of a Rough Guide to Space Travel and Bontempi organ on Start the Simulator. However, while continuing their trend for imperfect albums, this brings A-ha mk2 full circle, dovetailing so neatly with their original sound that it is difficult to see where they go from here.
External Album Reviews
None...
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