A-ha
Lifelines

THE REVIEW

"Lifelines" is the last A-ha album released in 2002. It contains a total of 15 songs that I have the pleasure of describing to you one by one:

"Lifelines" - A sweet and melancholic ballad with a two-voice chorus featuring Anneli Drecker that splits the song in a clear yet remarkably homogeneous manner. It should be listened to accompanied by the video, which I personally found magnificent like the track. "You Wanted More" - Electronic sounds dominate the piece along with Morten Harket's voice. The rhythm is set by the synthesized drums, making the song very "Duran Duran," while the chorus seems like the work of Moby. Indeed, this song "wanted more," but the arrangement perhaps made it less than what it could have been. Nevertheless, a good piece that improves with each subsequent listen. "Forever Not Yours" - The first single released from the album meant to promote its launch. The rhythm is marked by Magne’s keyboard riff and (again) the electronic drums. The song has a '80s revival vibe that is decidedly unoriginal, and here Morten Harket's voice seems almost unconvincing in what he's singing. Forgettable. "There's A Reason For It" - Finally, real drums (at least it seems so). Dark atmosphere and subdued sounds until the explosion (not too violent) in a very '60s Beat chorus. Perhaps more sparkling sounds would have given the track better intensity; still, a good piece. "Time And Again" - Here Harket's voice highlights Paul Waaktaar's songwriting qualities in a piece of incredible sweetness and intensity. It's hard to properly describe this track; you have to listen to it to understand... speechless...

"Did Anyone Approach You?" - Again electronic sounds and '80s vibes, even a dance rhythm mixed skillfully; the voice shifts from low and whispered tones to high tones with choruses that echo the Beat style that A-ha seems to love so much. Third release from this album. "Afternoon High" - Here the Beat atmospheres sound unmistakable with modern and light arrangements. When I think of this song, I feel like I see a shower of flowers raining from the sky and myself in flared pants and drop sunglasses waiting to meet with comrades on the street to protest in '68, but... oops, we're in 2005... the song's over... "Oranges On Appletrees" - Similar to "Afternoon High", but even from the title, you can tell they must have had something to drink before composing this song. Enjoyable track that smoothly carries on the album's listening. Morten's voice reaches astonishing depths. "A Little Bit" - Dark and subdued, led by Paul Waaktaar's acoustic guitar. What's interesting here are the tone shifts from one verse to another that make the song unique. I would have given more space (and volume) to Morten's voice and the orchestra. "Less Than Pure" - The rhythm is pressing in its rhythmic accompaniment. Again the Beat tendency is present but mixes with darker sounds that at times verge almost on New Age. Remarkable mix. "Turn The Lights Down" - A duet between Anneli Drecker and Morten Harket; sweet and light, unpretentious but personally, I do not favor Drecker's voice; I would have much preferred a Sade to accompany Harket in this hymn to love.

"Cannot Hide" - Here they almost sound like "Duran Duran," even in Harket's voice. Fast-paced electronic pop. The chorus reminds us that they are A-ha, with peace to all. At the song's end, Magne has something to say to us in French... "White Canvas" - Here the A-ha present themselves to us one by one and tell us that Magne plays the piano as if he were painting a canvas, Morten tells us that his voice is a palette where colors mix with each other, and Paul also says the most abstract forms need to be recognized to be pleasing. Pleasure to meet you! "Dragonfly" - This is a piece originally sung by Magne Furuholmen for the soundtrack of a Norwegian film. Adapted to A-ha style, in my opinion, it loses that sort of "raw" form that Magne gave it with his scratched voice, sometimes even off-key. Morten gives it a more precise vocal order, and the song turns out more fluid than the original, but if you want to listen to the true essence of the song, you must hear the original version. Heart-rending. "Solace" - The "comfort" of a solid rhythm and the usual sweet and strong voice of Morten together with the string parts provide the song the right dimension to allow the album to close, leaving the listener the desire to revisit everything, their tastes, their ego, and what music means. It reprises the colors of "Lifelines". It's a kiss on the head before sleep, a loving embrace before departure.

In conclusion of my personal review, I recommend this album to all lovers of music for listening, and even for those who, with some years more (skipping some songs), wish to relive some '60s Beat atmospheres. For those who prefer hard rock, rap, and more aggressive styles, they may find the album flat and without appeal, but we all know tastes are personal and, as always, all respectable... Anyway, it's my favorite A-ha album. To quote Woody Allen: if Robbie Williams is an excellent "second course," the Depeche Mode an excellent and imaginative "first course," the "A-ha" of "Lifelines" are, for me, a "complete meal"... I'm happy to offer you the coffee... Loupin