The album is split almost equally between Magne’s and Paul’s compositions, creating a balanced dialogue between their two distinct songwriting styles:
: A Magne-penned opener that sets a supportive, almost spiritual tone. It’s a song about commitment and showing up for one another in dark times. The album is split almost equally between Magne’s
Released in late 2022, is not just a-ha's 11th studio album; it is a sprawling, cinematic letter to the Arctic. Moving away from the synth-pop textures that defined their 80s peak, the band—Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen, and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy—delivers a soul-stirring orchestral project recorded in Bodø, Norway, 90 miles above the Arctic Circle. 1. A Cinematic Concept Moving away from the synth-pop textures that defined
The title True North is both a geographic marker and a metaphor for a moral compass. The album touches heavily on , reflecting the band’s concern for the melting Arctic ice and the relationship between humanity and nature. It feels like an "elder statesman" record—reflective, slightly melancholic, but fundamentally appreciative of the world's beauty. The album touches heavily on , reflecting the
The album serves as the soundtrack to a companion film of the same name. Unlike a traditional documentary, the film captures the band recording live with the . This "live-in-the-studio" approach translates into a record that feels organic, breathy, and deeply connected to the rugged landscape of Northern Norway. 2. The Sound: Orchestral Grandeur
True North is arguably a-ha’s most cohesive and ambitious work since their 2000 comeback, Minor Earth Major Sky . It demands to be heard as a whole, ideally while watching the film to fully grasp the synergy between the music and the environment. It is a triumphant, sophisticated late-career masterpiece that proves a-ha is far more than a nostalgia act.