Fans of the Swedish pop sensation ABBA couldn't wait one extra minute to get their hands on the band's first album released in 40 years, with many lined up at stores as clocks struck midnight late on Thursday.
In Berlin, for example, they stood in the pouring rain outside Dussmann, a major department store specializing in music and books, which had a special sale from 11:59 pm onwards.
The new album was available on CD, vinyl and - in keeping with the 70s revival - also on music cassette.
The first fans expressed positive opinions about the music on social networks during the early hours of Friday.
The leading Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter also gave the album a very good review.
"ABBA's 'Voyage' will make the world dance and sing," was the verdict of 'DN' music critic Martin Nystrom. He even felt reminded of Giuseppe Verdi during the track 'Ode To Freedom.'
Seven more songs
The album features the previously released songs 'I Still Have Faith In You,' 'Don't Shut Me Down' and 'Just A Notion' as well as seven more songs by Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid 'Frida' Lyngstad.
The fact that 'Voyage' contains typical ABBA music with catchy melodies can hardly be ignored in the new recordings, as was already the case with 'I Still Have Faith In You.'
In the song that kicks off 'Voyage,' the band appropriately asks, 'Do I have it in me?' only to answer confidently, 'We do have it in us!'
Based on the title of the song, one can say: ABBA still believe in themselves and their music even at an advanced age, and 40 years after the phenomenon of 'Abbamania,' the fans should do the same.
