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ABBA back after 40 years with new album, virtual stage show

LONDON (AP) - ABBA is releasing its first new music in four decades, along with a concert performance that will see the 'œDancing Queen'ť quartet going entirely digital.

The forthcoming album 'œVoyage," to be released Nov. 5, is a follow-up to 1981's 'œThe Visitors,'ť which until now had been the swan song of the Swedish supergroup. And a virtual version of the band will begin a series of concerts in London on May 27.

'œWe took a break in the spring of 1982 and now we've decided it's time to end it," ABBA said in a statement Thursday. 'œThey say it's foolhardy to wait more than 40 years between albums, so we've recorded a follow-up to 'The Visitors.''ť

The group has been creating the holographic live show, using motion capture and other techniques, with George Lucas' special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic.

They call it 'œthe strangest and most spectacular concert you could ever dream of.'ť

'œWe're going to be able to sit back in an audience and watch our digital selves perform our songs,'ť the group's statement said. 'œWeird and wonderful!'ť

The planned show spurred the making of the album, which features the new songs 'œI Still Have Faith In You'ť and 'œDon't Shut Me Down.'ť It began with sessions in 2018 and was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The show will come 50 years after the founding of the group that consisted of two married couples for most of its existence, and whose name is an acronym of the first names of its members, Agnetha Fältskog, 71, Björn Ulvaeus, 76, Benny Andersson, 74, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 75.

Their music has remained ubiquitous in the decades since their breakup, in part because of the stage musical 'œMamma Mia!'ť and the two films that followed it.

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

Last week the group launched a website with the title 'œ ABBA Voyage,'ť teasing the new announcement. Tickets go on sale Tuesday.

This cover image released by Capitol shows "Voyage," by ABBA, to be released Nov. 5. (Capitol via AP) The Associated Press
FILE - Members of the pop group ABBA, from left, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Foltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, appear in Tokyo on March 14, 1980. ABBA is releasing its first new music in four decades, along with a concert performance that will see the 'œDancing Queen' quartet going entirely digital. The forthcoming album 'œVoyage," to be released Nov. 5, is a follow-up to 1981's 'œThe Visitors,' which until now had been the swan song of the Swedish supergroup. (AP Photo/Tsugufumi Matsumoto, File) The Associated Press
FILE - Abba, from left, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Foltskog, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus perform at United Nations General Assembly, in New York, during taping of NBC-TV Special, "The Music for UNICEF concert" on Jan. 9, 1979. ABBA is releasing its first new music in four decades, along with a concert performance that will see the 'œDancing Queen' quartet going entirely digital. The forthcoming album 'œVoyage," to be released Nov. 5, is a follow-up to 1981's 'œThe Visitors,' which until now had been the swan song of the Swedish supergroup. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File) The Associated Press
A view of a screen showing ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson being interviewed in London, at the ABBA Voyage event at Grona Lund, in Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. ABBA is releasing its first new music in four decades, along with a concert performance that will see the 'œDancing Queen' quartet going entirely digital. The forthcoming album 'œVoyage,' to be released Nov. 5, is a follow-up to 1981'²s 'œThe Visitors,' which until now had been the swan song of the Swedish supergroup. And a virtual version of the band will begin a series of concerts in London May 27.   (Fredrik Persson/TT News Agency via AP) The Associated Press
A view of a countdown to the ABBA Voyage event at Grona Lund, in Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. ABBA is releasing its first new music in four decades, along with a concert performance that will see the 'œDancing Queen' quartet going entirely digital. The forthcoming album 'œVoyage,' to be released Nov. 5, is a follow-up to 1981'²s 'œThe Visitors,' which until now had been the swan song of the Swedish supergroup. And a virtual version of the band will begin a series of concerts in London May 27.  (Fredrik Persson/TT News Agency via AP) The Associated Press
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