ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2021 Sept - Dec

It's clean and unfussy, and it's a nice change not to have the group on the front.  That said, it's not very inspiring.  Despite doubtless being bespoke commissioned, it has a definite 'stock image' feel about it, and as a concept it's too 'cosmic' for me.  I've always associated ABBA with the here-and-now, and with modern, urban life; a band exploring the earthbound contemporary existence, so planetary imagery jars with all that.  Obviously the cover is trying to encompass in one image both the rebirth and impending death of ABBA as a group (if not yet as individuals), which it does, but I think that could've been achieved in a less astral way (I'd have really liked to see the theme based around an urban scene at dusk).  I also wish they could've ditched the ABBA band logo and typeface that's become synonymous with them.  It's been long enough between releases for this to be its own thing, but if you're going to go with the established logo, play with it in some way to tie-in with the theme of concluding and 'farewelling' - make the letters progressively fade from left to right, or drift apart, or something.  One of the sad things about this cover, of course, is that it reminds you that one of the old extended ABBA 'gang', cover designer and graphics director Rune Soederqvist, is no longer with us.  I wonder what he might've come up with, had he been around to collaborate with his old mates once more.

I think you expressed it very well, chron , by referencing a stock image. It is a good image but maybe lacks a little personality? That said, I'm glad they went with this image and not the ABBAtron images - for me they're a bit gimmicky for an album cover. I hope they're on the inner sleeve/booklet.

Personally, I'm glad they stuck with the official ABBA logo and the typeface from the previous albums/reissues. It establishes an important continuity. The brown/gold cast of the album cover ties (un/intentionally?) with the last two studio album covers. Personally, I'd have preferred it if the image was more clearly an eclipse and there was a bluer night-sky cast to it - the close up of the sun emerging over the horizon makes it look a little like they could be approaching a new planet or something. Then again, the concept of the sun emerging after a 40-year eclipse is sweet and clever.

To my eyes, all of the artwork - the singles, the album cover, the ABBAtar headshots - seem very dark. The ABBAtar stage performances in the ISHFIY video are darkly lit too. I wonder if this is a technical necessity to make the show work?

Just got email from HMV saying my order is ready

Looks like the picture discs have completely run out. Listings have disappeared from the official store. There’s nothing much left in terms of exclusives, unless you want an individual ABBA Tar artwork CD or cassette. I didn’t think they’d be too popular. Perhaps the Agnetha or Frida ones have had more takers, but I can’t imagine the Björn or Benny ones getting much interest, aside from those that ordered all four.

I adore the cover and genuinely think it's the opposite of "naff". For me it's so classy, understated and sophisticated. I actually find the abbatars alternate artwork a little naff though, but I've ordered it too of course!

Regarding HMV despatching yesterday, it seems there is some control over when they’re delivered. Someone on PopJustice got an email from Royal Mail saying HMV had instructed them not to deliver their Lana Del Rey vinyl until Friday.

However, if some cassettes have already arrived (not sure if this was to UK addresses though), someone other than HMV has messed up.

ABBA Night on BBC Two from 8pm Saturday 13 November:

8pm: ABBA at the BBC
9pm: The Joy of ABBA
10pm: Agnetha: ABBA and After (2013)
11pm: ABBA in Switzerland (1979)

Nothing particularly exciting in that lot, though hopefully ABBA in Switzerland will include the guest performances by Kate Bush and Roxy Music that were edited out of the version on the Voulez-Vous deluxe. I think the sequence for Eagle wasn’t present on that either. ABBA at the BBC included some of the ABBA in Switzerland performances, meaning they’re likely to be shown twice in one night.

Listened. Saying nothing this side of listening in full in ~36 hours.

Ill wait as well...
Only a few hours left to listen to full version... Its tempting though... just like Christmas.....

I can still hear them on mine? Just checked. I have the page open in my Safari though. Maybe if I refreshed, I’d lose it.

I liked the idea of listening to the album a few times upon its release and then choosing not listen to it any more until Christmas. But I soon realised it was a plan that wouldn't  work for me - not with all the discussion of the songs that will soon appear, demanding that I should give this or that track another listen just to check. 😆

Today I received a notice from two of the retailers that I ordered my Voyage records from that they have not received them from Universal yet and will not be able to ship them in time   One of them told me they expect to ship them sometimes next week, the other that the record won't be shipped before 14th November. I wonder if these delays can affect the first week sales of the album and thus it's chart performance?

The official store has emailed to say my order has been despatched… except it’s just the ABBA Tar picture disc which I ordered a bit later on. The main order (CD box and green vinyl) still showing as “pending”.