a-ha

When it comes to sophisticated synth-driven pop, few can hold a candle to a-ha. Formed in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, in 1982, by core trio Morten Harket, Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and Magne Furuholmen, they quickly became one of the hottest properties in pop, with their international chart-toppers Take On Me and The Sun Always Shines On TV ushering in a golden age during which their first three albums, Hunting High And Low, Scoundrel Days and Stay On These Roads yielded multi-platinum sales and international recognition.

However, while a-ha’s heady 80s will always be considered their heyday, the Norwegian trio have long since proved they’re in it for the long haul. Reuniting after a lengthy hiatus for the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize Concert, 2000’s Minor Earth Major Sky put them right back in contention, while an impressive live reputation, along with strong-selling recent titles such as 2002’s Lifelines, 2005’s Analogue and 2009’s Foot Of The Mountain, have conspired to ensure they’ve made the transition from teen sensations to purveyors of mature, eloquent pop with credibility to spare.