Topic: Abba announce first new music since 1982

[Clive]

Pop group Abba have returned to the studio to record their first new music since the 1980s.

The Swedish quartet said the new material was an "unexpected consequence" of their recent decision to put together a "virtual reality" tour.

"We all four felt that, after some 35 years, it could be fun to join forces again and go into the studio," the band said on Instagram.

"And it was like time stood still."

No release date has been set for the new songs - but one of them, titled I Still Have Faith In You, will be performed in December on a TV special broadcast by the BBC and NBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43924609

[Simon]

They must be one of the few 70s groups left where are all of the original members are still breathing! 

[GillE]

This makes me nervous!  Benny and Bjorn's style of music must have changed over the years and I wonder if the new stuff will touch the zeitgeist of their earlier hits.  The girls' voices will certainly have deteriorated so I expect they will be singing in lower keys.

[Simon]

They've been saying for years that they wouldn't reform, as it wouldn't be the same, or as good, so I don't really know what's changed.  They have said though, but they won't be performing live.

[Clive]

I'd be surprised if they released anything that might be considered substandard.  Abba songs are incredibly clever and complicated which makes it difficult for tribute acts to pass muster.  I've seen several and all have been dreadful.

[GillE]

I've seen some good Abba tribute acts, my favourite being  Bjorn Again.  I understand the act is owned by an impressario who hires and fires like Donald Trump which means the quality can be a bit variable, depending on how fresh the current line-up is.  The best tribute act I ever saw was called Once More Into The Bleach - guess who?




That's right... Blondie!  Absolutley superb.

[Clive]

I'll keep that in mind Gill.  I'm a Blondie fan too.  One of the Abba tribute acts we saw was Bjorn Again but they were mediocre at that time. 

[Simon]

Blondie are still going in their own right, though.   

[Clive]

So are Queen and that reminds me of the worst tribute band we ever saw.  Half the audience actually walked out and the band had to switch to miming to recordings of Queen.

[Simon]

There are one or two very good Queen tribute bands, but I'm sure there are also lots of bad ones. 

[GillE]

The worse tribute act I ever saw was a Beatles band.  They played Hey Jude, When I'm Sixty-Four and Please Please Me to the same rhythm!

[Simon]

Perhaps it was a medley?   

[Clive]

I saw the Bootleg Beatles and they were very good.