Amazon.co.uk Review
Compared to the spectacular shows other performers put on these days, the concert featured on
Homecoming--A-Ha Live at Vallhall is a very simple affair. There's no fancy lighting or special effects, with the plain stage set looking like a remnant from the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest. In fact with the guys' looks and music having changed little after nearly two decades in the business, the concert has a distinct feel of 1985 about it. That said, the track-listing contains an equal sprinkling of greatest hits, and songs from the more recent
Minor Earth Major Sky. The newer tracks sit particularly well alongside the classics, and you can detect the trio's joy of being able to perform the newer songs such as "Little Black Heart" and "Summer Moved On" live. The home audience, many who grew up listening to A-Ha, clearly adore the guys just as much they did when they were teens. Sadly judging by the shots of the audience, the fans (predominantly 30-something women) haven't aged as well as Harket and co.
On the DVD: Homecoming on disc has a great audio soundtrack (Dolby Digital 5.1), but the concert visuals are grainy and poor. This is more than compensated for by the vast amount of bonus material included. As well as three short documentaries on how Pal, Magne and Morten spent their seven-year break from A-Ha, there's a 20-minute interview with the band and behind-the-scenes footage of the after show party presented by a rather annoying Ian Wright. As well additional live performances of "Early Morning" and "Summer Moved On" recorded at a benefit concert, the videos for the four singles from Minor Earth Major Sky are included. The comprehensive English subtitles are particularly handy for understanding the Norwegian dialogue during the concert. --John Galilee
DVD Description
DVD special Features Documentary - 'The Seven Year Itch'
Backstage with A-HA featurette
After Party Vallhall featurette
Facts - History of the band
4 Promo Videos:
Summer Moved On
Minor Earth Major Sky
Velvet
I Wish I Cared
Additional Live Performances:
Early Morning (Grimstead Version)
Summer Moved On>
Screen Ratio: Concert - 16:9, Features - Various
Concert Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound & Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Concert Running Time: 112 mins
DVD Special Features Running Time: 63 mins
Having completed a successful tour of Japan and Europe last year, A-HA returned to their native Norway for two sell-out shows at Oslo's new football arena; Vallhall. This DVD is a recording of the sensational first night on the 24th March 2001.
Drawing on their six previous studio albums Homecoming features A-HA's biggest and best loved hits from their number one smash hit The Sun Always Shines On TV, Cry Wolf, James Bond theme The Living Daylights and ending on their breakthrough Take on me. The concert also brings us up to date with several more reflective and personal tracks from their critically acclaimed, highly successful last album Minor Earth Major Sky
A-Ha - Homecoming - Live At Vallhall
Presented in stunning Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound on DVD, Homecoming is packed special features including 'The Seven Year Itch', an insightful documentary looking at what Morten, Pal and Magne were up to during the band's hiatus previous to their 2000 comeback. We learn of Morten's continued success as a solo artist and his dedication to nature reserve and humanitarian causes, Magne's worldwide success as an artist and film composer and Pal's critically acclaimed work in the band Savoy.
Also included are with the group, unreleased live footage, 4 striking promo videos from Minor Earth Major Sky, backstage and after show party footage and a biography of the band. It's a package that no self respecting A-HA fan should be without.