Cast In Steel (Setembro – 2015)

O ano de 2015 será inesquecível para os fãs do a-ha. Depois de “Buterfly, Buterfly (the Last Hurrah)” último single de 2010, ficou um grande vazio para os fãs da banda.

O lançamento de “Cast in Steel” e a confirmação de uma turnê mundial tendo como ponto de partida o retorno do grupo para o Rock in Rio foi uma overdose de emoções, os fãs se empolgaram, os sites dedicados ao a-ha tiveram um aumento significativo de acessos diários, incluindo o a-ha Bahia que atingiu uma marca nunca antes alcançada.

Como se não fosse bastante toda essa onda positiva, o a-ha caprichou no seu décimo álbum de estúdio. Como disse no meu depoimento ao site Through The Eyes Of A Fan (Obrigado Patrícia Cezar), o novo álbum tem elementos de diversas fases da banda sem se tornar datado, porque a banda como sempre olha para frente, sempre foi assim, sempre seguiram em frente, e isso fez com que a banda seja cultuada como um dos grandes expoentes de sua geração.

O “Cast in Steel” é agradável de se ouvir, o tipo de álbum que você curti desde o início e lamenta quando acaba.

A expressiva apresentação no Rock in Rio e todos os shows realizados no Brasil com capacidades esgotadas atestam que a qualidade da banda permanece num patamar elevado, e o reconhecimento do público confirma a impressão positiva que o álbum conquistou com os fãs, e reviews positivos da crítica.

O álbum “Cast in Steel” foi lançado em quatro formatos:
Vinil, Standard CD, Deluxe Edition / Double CD (álbum duplo) e Fanbox Edition / Double CD (álbum duplo).

Deluxe e Fanbox Editions

CD 1:

01. Cast In Steel (3:50)

Letra e música: Paul Waaktaar-Savoy

Meet me at the turnaround
Stop your car and look around
There I will be waiting
Forget for once that eveything fades
It fades away

I’ll never get over what we said
It lingers in my head
I’ll always remember what we knew
One hundred percent to be true
To be right
To be real
Set in stone
And cast in steel
We made a pact
Eye to eye
Cross your heart
And hope to die

Can you see the end of things?
Can you see it happening?
Feel the ashes on the wind
Don’t you hate how everything falls
Just falls away

I’ll never get over what we said
It lingers in my head
I’ll always remember what we knew
One hundred percent to be true
To be right
To be real
Set in stone
And cast in steel
We made a pact
Eye to eye
Cross your heart
And hope to die

It lingers in my head
I’ll always remember what we knew
One hundred percent to be true
Set in stone
And cast in steel
To be right and
To be real
Set in stone
And cast in steel

Produzido por Erik Ljunggren e Paul Waaktaar-Savoy

---

 

02. Under The Makeup (3:25)

Letra e música: Paul Waaktaar-Savoy

This is how it ends
Each on our own
Unless we pretend
Meanwhile our hearts turn to stone
Shaped by wind
Boulders slowly molded over time
Here within

I want to see you
Under the makeup
Let all the worry
Vanish away
I want to hold you
Like it’s the first time
Like you were still mine

If you wanted out
Didn’t I let you go
If you wanted in
Didn’t I make it so
It could be
Tenderness escapes so easily

I want to see you
Under the makeup
Let all the worry
Vanish away
I want to hold you
Like it’s the first time
Like you were still mine

I want to see you
Under the makeup
Let all the worry
Vanish away
I want to touch you
Like it’s the first time
Like you were still mine
I want to see you
Under the makeup…

Produzido por Erik Ljunggren e Paul Waaktaar-Savoy

---

 

03. The Wake (3:45)

Musica: Morten Harket e Peter Kvint
Letra: Morten Harket e Ole Sverre Olsen

Can’t change the one you are
Can’t change the one you love
Lower your guard
I’ve made a few mistakes
I’ll tell you what it takes
Under the stars
Have you seen the other me at times?
Walking on an ever looser line

Baby this is a wake
You and I will not escape
As time goes by
The world’s never been older
Your head on my shoulder
So close your eyes

Stung by normality
Wronged by your family
Conventions aside
Cannot change the one you love
From inside – or from above
Just hold him tight
Walking on an ever looser line
But love has let me over every time

Baby we’re on a wake
You and I will not escape
Just close your eyes
The world’s never been older
Your head on my shoulder
And time goes by

The world’s never been older
Your head on my shoulder
As time goes by

Baby this is a wake
None of us will escape
Who we are
The world’s never been older
Your head on my shoulder
As time goes by

(Baby this is a wake)
(None of us will escape)
(The world’s never been older)
(Your head on my shoulder)

Produzido por Peter Kvint e Morten Harket

---

 

04. Forest Fire (3:54)

Musica: Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket, Martin Terefe e Peter Kvint
Letra: Magne Furuholmen

Goes around
Comes around
It doesn’t really matter, yeah
Something wrong
A false alarm
It doesn’t ring that true, yeah
Watch it flare up, Where do we begin

We are flames in the forest fire
Rising from within
That’s where we begin

We take you far and wide
And always
Leave a silver lining scar

The stores in town
Are closing down
And everything’s in ruin, yeah

Borderline
Just turn around
Out of every ditch, a path
Watch it flare up

Time to reign it in
So let’s begin

We are flames in the forest fire
Rising from within
That’s where we begin and
We fuel desire
And always
Leave a silver lining scar

Now we flare up, Now we can begin
We are flames in the forest fire
Rising from within
That’s where we begin and
We fuel desire
And like always
Leave a silver lining scar
Leave a silver lining scar

Produzido por Steve Osborne, Magne Furuholmen e Erik Ljunggren

---

05. Objects In The Mirror (4:14)

Letra e música: Magne Furuholmen

You drive down
Your old street
Familiar smiles
From those you meet
You’ve been around
Been everywhere
But objects in the rear view mirror
Are closer than they appear
Looking back is bittersweet
When the world was at your feet
Love would make your life complete
No-one makes it on their own
You’ve come so far
In your comfortable car
Now objects in the rear view mirror
Seem closer than they are
Looking back is bittersweet
All the world is at your feet
Love would make your life complete
Hmmm… Yeah…

Love could make your life complete
Teach your heart to skip a beat
And lift your eyes above the street
This is where you once belonged
Come on now
It’s not so bad
Thinking back on the fun we had
We can stitch a life together
With the fibres of the past
But you cannot make a fleeting moment
Promise it will last
Looking back is bittersweet
You know the world is at your feet
Lift your eyes above the streets
Love could make your life complete
Been everywhere

And now you’re here
And objects in the rear view mirror
Seem to disappear

Produzido por Steve Osborne, Magne Furuholmen e Erik Ljunggren

---

06. Door Ajar (3:45)

Letra e música: Paul Waaktaar-Savoy

Door ajar, Door ajar

I hit my head on the pillow, hard
I heard a noise from the boulevard
And it made me go down
I’ve left the door to my room ajar
Felt the rumble of the street-car
And it’s spiraled me down
If you could see me swallowed by darkness

What would it matter?
Would it awaken
Feelings foresaken
Faded and scattered
Would you come running
If you could hear me
Some way or another
That’s what I’m thinking
Watching the stars reflect in the gutter

Door ajar, Door ajar

I hit my head on the pillow, hard
I took the words that you said to heart
And it made me feel down
When I awoke it was dark outside
Just a flicker from a traffic light
And it signaled me down
If you could see me swallowed in darkness
(And if you don’t want me now)
What would it matter?
(Then I doubt you ever will)
Would it awaken
(There is nothing I can add)
Feelings foresaken
Faded and scattered
(To clinch the deal)
Would you come running
If you could hear me
(And if you don’t see me now)
Some way or another
(And you haven’t done so far)
That’s what I’m thinking
Watching the stars reflect in the gutter
(In case you change your mind)
(I’ll leave the door ajar)

Door ajar, Door ajar, Door ajar

Produzido por Paul Waaktaar-Savoy e Alan Tarney

---

07. Living At The End Of The World (4:06)

Musica: Morten Harket e Peter Kvint
Letra: Morten Harket e Ole Sverre Olsen

Sometimes it leaves me with fear
Never saw the horizon this near
Looked to the left then to the right
I tuck you in and I kiss you goodnight

See, there is something I know
We are not whom we’re told
We are more than we’ll never know

And we’re living at the end of the world
Forget about all that you’ve heard
We’re living our dreams on the highway
It’s just another day
No matter what they say

Or you’ve heard
We’re living on top of the world
Living our dreams on the highway, yeah
No matter what they say
It’s just another day
I hear your heart beat in the night
You’re like an echo of light
But in times when shadow runs deep
Your golden beauty goes cheap
Still there is something I know
And something yet to unfold
And we are more than we’ll never know

And we’re living at the end of the world
Forget about all that you’ve heard
We’re living our dreams on the highway
It’s just another day
No matter what they say

Or you’ve heard
We’re made it to the top of the world
Building up speed on the highway, yeah

We’ve made it to the end
We’re living at the end of the world
Forget about all that you’ve heard
No matter what they say

We’re living at the end of the world
Forget about all that you’ve heard
Building up speed on the highway, yeah
Living at the end of the world

Produzido por Peter Kvint e Morten Harket

---

08. Mythomania (3:49)

Letra e música: Magne Furuholmen

You walked a mile
on broken glass
Through glowing coals,
you wore a path
The words on your tongue
A mechanical song
Your face is lined with disappointment

Oh white matter mind
What have you got to say?
Reasons combine to force you away
You’re moving on
You solved the problem
And who could blame ya?
You’re safe in here

Inside your castle
In Mythomania
Mythomania
Cold crescent moon
On a red cross
It’s happening soon
It’s coming for us
Oh white matter mind
What is there left to say?
Reasons combined to force you away
No telephone
No television
No news that drain ya
You’re safer in here
More atmosphere
In Mythomania
In Mythomania
Mythomania

Now, you caught belief
Like some disease
No words can save ya
Cuz you’re all alone
You’re on your own
In Mythomania

Produzido por Magne Furuholmen e Erik Ljunggren

---

 

09. She’s Humming A Tune (4:02)

Letra e música: Paul Waaktaar-Savoy

She’s humming a tune
To keep herself from thinking
About all that she’s facing
But her mind is racing
Over and over again

And I don’t suppose she knows
Everything that’s bound to happen
How and where the story goes
And I don’t suppose I care
She’s up tight, not right
What could it matter to me

She’s humming a tune
To keep herself from straying
When everything’s swaying
And decisions are weighing
Ever so hard on her mind

And I don’t suppose she knows
Everything that’s bound to happen
How and where the story goes
And I don’t suppose I care
I’m bummed out, no doubt
But what does it matter to me?

She’s up tight, not right
How can it matter to me?

And I don’t suppose she knows
She’s up tight, not right
How can it matter to me?

Produzido por Paul Waaktaar-Savoy e Erik Ljunggren

---

 

10. Shadow Endeavors (4:21)

Letra e música: Paul Waaktaar-Savoy

Why breathe a word
When no-one needs to know
Why say a thing to another living soul
Let us pay no mind
To a world that seems unkind
For here is something to shelter
Now more than ever (Shadow endeavors)
Our shadow endeavors (Shadow endeavors)
Shadow endeavors (Shadow endeavors)
Shadow endeavors (Shadow endeavors)

Why leave us open
And naked to the sun
Why draw their fire
That they’ll surely reign upon us
Let us pay no mind
To their words and bitter lines
For here’s something to shelter
Now more than ever (Shadow endeavors)
These shadow endeavors (Shadow endeavors)
Shadow endeavors (Shadow endeavors)
Now more than ever (Shadow endeavors)
Only ever happened to me once
It doesn’t come again
I think somebody left me here
Afraid and lonely
A long time ago

Only ever happened to me once
It doesn’t come again
I think somebody left me here
Afraid and lonely
A long time ago

Produzido por Paul Waaktaar-Savoy e Alan Tarney

---

 

11. Giving Up The Ghost (4:15)

Letra e música: Magne Furuholmen

Icy road
Blinding dark
Rolling hills
In the distance
Open wound
A painful scar
Love has left its burning trademark
Off the grid
Out of bounds
Further down into shadow
Darkest day
Whitest night
In harm’s way
We’re chasing rainbows

Giving up the ghost
Giving up the ghost

That’s what hurt the most
You sever all my heads
You placed them on your bed
Some part of your great scheme
To vow me into silence

Giving up the ghost
Giving up the ghost

That’s what hurt the most
Frozen lake
Soon will flow
Frozen ground
Soon to follow
But hey, everything is in your head
And what you killed was never dead

(Giving up the ghost) Giving up the ghost
(Giving up the ghost) Giving up the ghost
(Giving up the ghost) On what you loved the most
(On a coal-black sea, the sky’s on fire)
(Failed attempts at a funeral pyre)
(Deep as dreams of dark desire)
(The flames are growing ever higher)

You sever all my heads
You placed them on your bed
Some part of your great scheme
To vow me into silence

Giving up the ghost, Giving up the ghost
Giving up the ghost, Giving up the ghost

You sever all my heads
You placed them on your bed
Some part of your great scheme
You sever all my heads
You placed them on your bed
Some part of your great scheme
Giving up the ghost
Giving up the ghost

You placed them on your bed
Giving up the ghost
That’s what hurt the most
You sever all my heads
You placed them on your bed
Some part of your great scheme

Produzido por Magne Furuholmen e Erik Ljunggren

---

 

12. Goodbye Thompson (3:34)

Letra e música: Paul Waaktaar-Savoy

Goodbye Thompson, goodbye
I tape the sign to the door
Here we pinned all our dreams
Now the store is no more

What comes after what was
That was once strangely new
What awaits up ahead for me and you?

(Goodbye Thompson, goodbye)
(Goodbye Thompson) Goodbye Thompson
(Goodbye Thompson, goodbye)
(Goodbye Thompson, goodbye)

Goodbye Thompson, goodbye
This space is for rent
See my head hanging low
All my energies spent

What comes after what was
That was once strangely new
What awaits up ahead, I wish I knew
(Goodbye Thompson, goodbye)
(Goodbye Thompson) Goodbye Thompson
(Goodbye Thompson, goodbye)
(Goodbye Thompson, goodbye)

What comes after what was
That was once strangely new
What awaits up ahead for me and you?

(Goodbye Thompson, goodbye)
(Goodbye Thompson)

Goodbye Thompson, Goodbye Thompson
Goodbye Thompson

Produzido por Paul Waaktaar-Savoy e Alan Tarney

---

 

CD 2:

01. The End Of The Affair (3:31)

Letra e música: Magne Furuholmen

Even as the snow is falling…
Dark December nights are calling
Memories of early warning signs
Like a whisper in the mind
I put my brave face on
Robbed of the love I owned

It’s the end of the affair

We’re not who we once were
Hard to be open when all facts are in
Hard to write endings before we begin

It’s the end of the affair

And it seems we no longer care
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Well, I was fond but now I’m harder
So here we are in somber silence
With no-one else but us to blame
Hard to be honest when others pretend
Hard to begin when we already know the end

It’s the end of the affair

Yeah

And it seems we no longer care

Produzido por Erik Ljunggren e Magne Furuholmen

---

 

02. Mother Nature Goes To Heaven (Original Version) (4:33)

Letra e música: Paul Waaktaar-Savoy
Produzido por a-ha

03. Nothing Is Keeping You Here (Original Version) (4:41)

Letra e música: Paul Waaktaar-Savoy
Produzido por a-ha

04. Shadowside (Demo Version) (4:16)

Letra e música: Paul Waaktaar-Savoy
Produzido por a-ha e Erik Ljunggren

05. Start The Simulator (Stereophonic Mix) (5:19)

Letra e música: Paul Waaktaar-Savoy
Produzido por Mark Saunders and Roland Spremberg

06. Foot Of The Mountain (Mark Saunders Remix) (4:18)

Letra: Paul Waaktaar-Savoy
Musica: Paul Waaktaar-Savoy e Magne Furuholmen
Produzido por Mark Saunders

---

Standard CD

01. Cast In Steel
02. Under The Makeup
03. The Wake
04. Forest Fire
05. Objects In The Mirror
06. Door Ajar
07. Living At The End Of The World
08. Mythomania
09. She’s Humming A Tune
10. Shadow Endeavors
11. Giving Up The Ghost
12. Goodbye Thompson

---

Vinil

Lado A:

Cast In Steel
Under The Makeup
The Wake
Forest Fire
Objects In The Mirror

Lado B:

Door Ajar
Living At The End Of The World
Mythomania
Shadow Endeavors
Goodbye Thompson

Como podemos notar, a faixa inédita “The End Of The Affair” não fez parte da versão simples do cd e do vinil.