Voyage

What an experience. What a feeling to be able to listen to a brand new ABBA record in 2021. Firstly, this album isn’t cutting edge or ground breaking. Don’t expect modern reinvention. But it’s not trying to do that. There’s a self-aware element running under this album. All 4 members clearly wanted to make something timeless and ageless. This is an album that ABBA have made because they love to make music. It very much feels like a “thank you and goodnight” moment, a way for the members to put some closure on their ABBA career whilst also letting it continue in their fans lives. As such, it’s full of little nods to the past. This is an album for the love of ABBA and ABBA fans - not for the critics. “I Still Have Faith In You” still makes me quite emotional. For many years, the 4 band members were quite dismissive of their ABBA years, or possibly overwhelmed by it all. “We have a story, and it survived”. It’s both the gratitude and amazement in the delivery of that line. Gets me everytime. Cause you know that they thought they were done and discarded for so many years, I find it really heartwarming that they’re finally comfortable with it all and can actually be proud of what they did and enjoy it. It would have been even better had the song opened with a fade in of the crowd applause like in the video. That would’ve been a wonderful way to open the album, a nod to the new Voyage live show and also a throwback to “The Way Old Friends Do”. “When You Danced With Me” is a great track. Clearly Irish influenced but with a typical ABBA twist. The melody reminds me of “Arrival”. They’ve not really done anything like this. It’s a big track, quite loud, but that gives it this really unique atmosphere. Like your stood out in the sweeping Irish countryside when you listen to it. Wonderful to hear them try something new at this stage of their career. The joint vocal by Agnetha and Frida is just wonderful too. “Little Things” manages to combine 2 things I hate. Christmas and children’s choirs. BAH HUMBUG. Having said that, whilst I don’t think this is a song I will listen to often, it has a timeless quality too it. Like an old Christmas standard that families would sing around the piano on Christmas Day. It’s quite a warm little song, very sweet. It’s feels more like a poem though, there’s no real chorus too it. A pop song it ain’t. “Don’t Shut Me Down” is an instant ABBA classic. It’s like the sequel to “One of Us” with a bit of “If It Wasn’t For the Nights” thrown in for good measure. The second chorus is so euphoric and probably my favourite moment on the album. A great characterisation performance from Agnetha too. She has such a unique way of making you feel what she’s singing, and though her voice has lowered over the years, she hasn’t lost that magic ability to pull you in. I would not have been surprised if this was a leftover from the 1982 sessions that gave us “Under Attack” and “I Am The City” either. “Just A Notion” I didn’t like as a stand along single and I’m still a bit miffed that they re-used 1978 vocals on a 2021 album. Having said that I enjoyed it a lot more in context with the album. I think it’s a fun song, and it really injects that into the album. It’s needed too, as some of the subject matter on the back end of the album is quite serious. “I Can Be That Woman” is quite a harrowing tale of alcoholism and domestic abuse. I thought with all the dog references that I would hate it but again, Agnetha really draws you into the story. One of the lyrically darkest songs I think they’ve done. Really love this one. “Keep An Eye On Dan” is a bit of an 80’s throwback musically and great example of Agnetha & Frida taking some slightly naff lyrics and making it something special. Again, quite a dark tale about a divorced couple, and one of the couple meets someone new, and that effect on the child. Great little nod to “SOS” at the end too. The drums in the chorus seem a bit off for some reason though - quite “unsmooth”? Like they’re not really gelling with the rest of the track. It could have done with a smoother drum take, to give it more of a slick “Lay All Your Love On Me” type sound. The verses are incredible though. “Bumblebee” has an amazing vocal by Frida. She sounds so strong here. The song is folky, I can hear a bit of a nod to “Fernando” in it and some of the earlier ABBA tracks from the first album. It didn’t jump out at me at first but it’s growing on me. Again - the serious subject in a polished song - this one is about climate change. “No Doubt About It” - what a great pop rock track. This wouldn’t sound out of place on Frida’s “Shine” album. You can hear in her vocal delivery that she’s really having fun with it too. This would’ve made a great single. “Ode to Freedom” sounds like ABBA doing Enya, with a touch of “Like An Angel Passing Through My Room” thrown in for good measure. Great atmosphere although the vocal is a bit buried in the mix and it’s hard to decipher the lyrics at times. It also ends quite abruptly - I sort of wish it had a bigger, longer outro to really send us off into the future so that the voyage really never ends, but a beautiful song nonetheless. Overall a really wonderful album. Does it really reach the heights of their original run? No. But it’s certainly better than their low’s (I’m looking at you, “I Saw It In The Mirror”). Also, this is not an album made by people in their 20’s and 30’s either. Don’t go in expecting to hear “Voulez-Vous” or “Dancing Queen”. But it’s a very beautiful way of rounding off ABBA nicely. More proof that their music will truly never die, and thank good for that! The world needs ABBA.

I feel the critics have been a little unkind to this album, they firstly don't seem to have grasped that Abba have reformed for a fun little project, they aren't trying to better their classics or have big chart success, they just wanted to had a little fun and bring some new songs for the fans. It is also evident most of the critics haven't actually listened to the album properly, they've just skipped over the songs quickly. What we have here is a very good album. The songs are varied, and the production doesn't try and be modern, it's just classic Abba which is obviously what everyone wants, there's no-one wanted Abba to try and modernise. There are indeed some interesting subject matters in the songs, not unusual for Abba but very catchy melodies and vocals that stick in your head after a couple of listens, it takes something special for songs to stick in your head so quickly. Both the girls are in great voice. Frida sounds unchanged, Agnetha does sing a little more mature but as she's said herself, the emotion she can produce now and the way she can use her voice offers things she couldn't do before, the emotion in 'I Can Be That Woman' is amazing. All the critics can do is complain that it's anti women (I don't see that anyhow, I think it's well balanced) but by telling the story from the viewpoint of the dog, she can bring you to tears if you play it loud and listen to it properly. Meanwhile, Frida's story of the bumblebee is equally moving, a very thoughtful song. It's seeing the bigger picture with this album, it gives the fans exactly that they want, some catchy new songs, very easy listening and even when dealing with perhaps more depressing subject matters we have happy lively melodies to lighten the mood. This album does exactly what it sets out to, gives the girls chance to sing together their harmonies, even the boys can be heard in the back of 'Keep and Eye on Dan' which is great, it is a fun little project the fans can enjoy and the sales speak for themselves.

ABBA great music

Having said that, ABBA's music is still good. I've been able to listen to the samples and I love BumbleBee. I'll update this review when I am able to find where my download went. Done it. Have to go to your 'order' section on your Amazon account and download it from there. Ode to Freedom - a nod to the classical orchestral arrangements (Mozart springs to mind), but there's some kind of Russian-esque sound to it. Bloody brilliant. BumbleBee is great for kids - and I can't wait to see folks YT videos depicting this one. No Doubt About It - nothing to do with the 80s song by another group. Sounds more like Madonna's American football song (can't remember what it was called). Ok. Not great, but poppy and boppy. Keep an Eye on Dan - the opening sounds like it could have been a Bond song. Then Aggie begins to sing. Ok. Nice harmonies. Sounds embedded in the 1980s. Perhaps it was created then? I Can Be That Woman - good visual storytelling song. A couple leading an ordinary life that's ending. Again, beautiful harmonies. Little Things - I'm wondering if they're going to release a Christmas video. They should. Would have been better than the John Lewis ad. Pretty song. Can imagine twinkling lights and feel the traditional Christmas morning. As for the others, I think the world and his dog knows about them now. Like it, but don't love it. I guess it will grow on me. But they don't seem to have the sparkle they used to have. I guess they enjoyed creating it. I've enjoyed listening to it, but it's not a brilliant album filled with surprises. If they weren't who they were, I'm sorry to say that this album wouldn't get to the top of the charts. But nice anyway.

Abbas' reunion has been one of this year's big surprises. It has, of course, been a wish and hope among many fans, and it seems as if it is the group's reputation as one of popular music's alltime greatest has grown over the years - even among more critical music lovers. I have now listened through the album 6-7 times and I am certainly not disappointed - as you easily become when groups reunite. In many ways, the music and arrangements are an immediate extension of the predecessors "Super Trouper" and "The Visitors" from 1980 and 1981 - Yes, despite the forty years that have passed. It's almost as if they've never were away. Vocally, the girls are still in great shape and as for the songwriting there’s not much to object to. Incidentally, a song has vocals sung in 1978 during the “Voulez Vous” sessions. The album has a nice playing length of close to 40 minutes; I'm not a fan of overly long albums, especially not when the quality for this is not there. The album opens with the single "I Still Have Faith in You" with lead vocals from Anni-Frid. It's a magnificent ballad with a great build up and a nice refrain, "Do I Have it in Me?" - It is hardly too daring to predict a new classic here, on a par with many of the greatest songs from 1970-1981. On "When you Danced with me" we find tones based on Irish folk music; including bagpipe sounds. The melody is catchy and the lyrics nostalgic / melancholy - actually quite moving. "Little Things" is a quiet Christmas song - as far as I know the group's first Christmas release. Nice melody with vocals from both girls. We will probably hear it during the Christmas month for many years to come. "Don't Shut Me Down" has also been out as a single, and has jumped to the top in several places. After a subdued intro, a captivating beat begins and a new very melodic and well-turned verse begins. The chorus goes straight in and we are witnessing another new classic. The verses are sung by Agnetha with harmony from Anni-Frid; mostly on the chorus. An absolute highlight. "Just a Notion" is the aforementioned song that originates from the "Voulez Vous" sessions. You can actually well sense it; especially in the music, it is very much 1970s pop - a happy up-beat song. “I Can Be That Woman” is a magnificent ballad sung by Agnetha; the melody sounds like something Bryan Adams might well have written; really nice. "Keep an Eye on Dan" is one of the songs where you can hear that you are not in the 1980s anymore. A more modern sound, but unmistakably Abba. On the subdued "Bumble Bee" we again meet tones based on the folkish tradition. A little comment on our environment that is suffering badly these years. "No Doubt About It" is an upbeat dance song. Classic Abba and a probable radio hit; sung by Anni-Frid. The album ends with the magnificent anthem "Ode to Freedom", which puts a nice full-stop to a surprisingly well-laid and successful comeback album.

I waited 40 years for this, and there's No Doubt It, it was going to be more than just a collection of Little Things. I knew I'd like it. "I Still Have Faith In You," I said as I ordered the CD, and I had a feeling - Just a Notion really - that this was going to be a CD that I'd play again and again. Sure enough, once I received it I played it a few times and when I tried to turn the CD player off in the car I thought I heard a voice saying Don't Shut Me Down. I didn't of course, it was just a Bumblebee humming through the opened window. I got out of the car and my dog, Freedom, stared at me from the living room window. He was wondering what I was doing sitting in the car so long. I gave a Nod To Freedom, and went into the house. My cleaner, Miriam was polishing the hall table. You deserve to be cleaner of the year, I jested. "I Can Be That Woman," she replied. We both laughed. She gazed into my eyes, and asked if I'd had a good trip. I said that I had been to the city and the Voyage had been helped by having the new CD to listen to. I told her I'd been to my dance class, but I'd missed a few steps. It was easier When You Danced With Me, I told her. She had been giving me private lessons (for extra pay of course - it's all Money Money Money with Miriam). She stared at me, a glisten coming into her eyes. I miss the good old times when you danced with me, she said. And you better have a look at what Freedom has done, she said, towards the bedroom. I followed her into the room. I was shocked to see that all of my suits, shirts and ties had been shredded, torn and chewed. Freedom came running in and I looked down at him. He was a little sheepish. Miriam explained what had happened. "So you left for the City, I hope you liked it there by the way. Freedom got into the bedroom when I wasn't looking and went berserk." I looked in anger at the dog. The reproach in my eyes was imagined but the pain that I felt was real. I spoke to the dog. "So is the outsize suit as you imagined? Was it worth it, severing the ties? Happy to see me or a bit embarrassed? There's a darkness deep in your blue eyes." Freedom left the room and Miriam said there's no point in getting annoyed. Just Move On. I thought, Why Did It Have To Be Me? "This is your fault for leaving the door open," I said. Miriam replied: "I made a mess this time. And there's no doubt about it. Hands down, the fault is mine. And I'm prepared to shout it. But what's the point of stressing. Sit down and listen to your new CD and you'll soon feel better." I did as she suggested and I was soon back to being the man I should have been. Miriam slipped away waving her duster as she left. Unfortunately she tripped over Freedom on the way out and went head over heels. She was a bit sore but we both thoroughly enjoyed this CD which we listened to as I drove her to the hospital. My favourite track is I Still Have Faith In You, and Miriam said that she liked When You Danced With Me. By the time of our arrival at the hospital Miriam had fallen in love with the CD and so I'm going to buy her a copy as a get well present.

All new compositions from the super band in their first offering for many years. They still have it! I Still Have Faith In You is my particular favourite and as catchy as any of their other big hits and my only surprise is that this did not get the playtime to be another Top Ten title. The album accompanies the virtual tech show of the same name currently running in the purpose-built ABBA Arena in London. Both the album and the show are outstanding. Buy the album and visit the show or play the album as a show reminder! It stands alone as a great offering from ABBA and is well worth the purchase price

I have held back for a while. I'm not a journalist, but I am a musician. So...What the older ABBA has to offer here is a thank you to the fans in a throw-back way. Their music is like opening a window in a stuffy room. That is not to say that many of today's musicians aren't great (not at all) but they haven't travelled quite the same journey or for quite as long. Yes their are some songs on this album that metal-heads and dance freaks may find less attractive than others...but then some of us don't always like what they have to offer us either...so it sort of levels out. If ABBA had returned in 'Full-On-Dance-Track-Mode I'm not sure that would have been appropriate. They were dammned one way or the other though - the old ABBA music haters were oh so ready for the kill. They couldn't wait to put them down, and boy did they really go for the poison. It didn't work. ABBA rose above it just as the did before They are staying true to their age and they are entitled to that...their musical history is looking likely to outlive their enemies...their musical genious has reached new heights and we music lovers are the lucky ones. It took a while to really appreciate the many hidden layers that this album has but I have to say that once I decoded the messages I was totally blown away. Both Frida and Agnetha are like a breath of fresh air vocally - older for sure but no less vital than in their hay-day. Bjorn brings us some terrific lyrics which make us think outside of the usual dumbed down pop music. Not bad for a Swedish group composing in a different language....I mean yeah!!! Lastly and perhaps most fittingly - Benny Andersson I salute you !!! The songs have hidden messages and of course both Agnetha & Frida shine as brightly as ever! A Modern Work Of Musical Art !!!

Voor de liefhebber natuurlijk.

I wasn't sure how this album would compare to the ABBA songs from decades ago, but I love it. It's maybe sort of a Seekers sound, more mellow and less pop.

È sempre meraviglioso ascoltare gli Abba. Questo CD dona grandi emozioni e ci fa sognare!

With this, my ABBA collections is complete. Abba music is still Abba in essence. The style of music remains unchange despite the 40 years return.

Todo perfecto.