On stage with Savoy

Paul and Lauren were interviewed by Richard Green on BBC Radio Devon on Saturday, February 10th. The whole 14-minute interview is available at bbc.co.uk.

Lauren on the reception the album is getting:
“[We’re] super proud and very excited. It’s such a good feeling when you work so hard – just the two of us, working away – that when it goes out there, some people do recognize it and like it.”

Paul on possible Savoy concerts:
“We’d love to, it would really be nice. Lauren is the only one I know that hasn’t had Covid yet, so she’s very careful and that might present some challenge to travel around a lot. But we would absolutely love to play live, so we’re looking into it.”

Paul was also asked if there is any possibility of a-ha getting together again:
“[True North] was a strange period, because we were in the middle of the Hunting High and Low Tour – and that got postponed so many times – so we never got around to actually touring the True North album. We sort of ran out of time.

And with a-ha, we’ve always done things in an ebb and flow sort of style. We do one thing, then we retract and then we come back and do something else. There’s always things being discussed. I think our fans know us. We come back when we feel “OK, now we’re gonna do something”. It could definitely happen.”

Paul was also interviewed on the radio show Kveldsåpent on NRK P1 earlier this week, but the audio is unfortunately not available online. Update (21/2): The interview is now available.

And although Under is the first Savoy album that has failed to enter the official Norwegian Top 40 album chart, it continues to garner positive feedback from fans and critics.

Puls‘ reviewer describes the album as really excellent pop/rock, and that “Coming Down” sounds like something Paul McCartney would wish he’d written. He also praises Waaktaar’s ability to come up with “quirky chord progressions” in his songs:
“The ones that turn up unexpectedly, outside the box – but still slide into the ear canal like cream on strawberries. Listen to the opening track “Lonely Surfer”, and I’m sure you’ll understand what I mean”.

Popklikk gives special mention to the album’s production and vocal deliveries:
“The music has been placed inside a modern and meticulously crafted production, where a vital and playful soundscape adds a fine mixture of pleasure and energy to the songs. A production that has room for both string arrangements and electronic equipment.
One of the best things about ‘Under’ is how the couple Paul and Lauren sing so beautifully throughout the album, both individually and together. While the frequent backing vocals add freshness to the music and acts like a melodic supplement.”

Norway Rock‘s album review (in English) is more lukewarm, but does highlight the production and other high-quality elements:
“The title track has an excellent Bowie-esque chorus (and there are echoes of his work and sound throughout, along with Beatles and Beck), “Life and Times of a Wannabe” has some first-rate guitar work on it, edgy riffs and some good textures. Likewise, “Coming Down”, which also exemplifies Frode Unneland’s drumming on the record, which is generally prominent in the mix, and with good reason, as it carries the record along well.”