On 20–22 May 2008, Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy performed concerts in Oslo, Norway, to promote their respective solo material before coming together as A-ha to play “Train of Thought”, “Take on Me”, and two new songs, “Riding the Crest” and “Shadowside”, which previewed the new A-ha album, Foot of the Mountain. These events led up to their performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 24 May.
On 24 April 2009, A-ha surprised their fan base by releasing their new single, “Foot of the Mountain”, premiering that day on Norwegian radio. The single had been completed only the night before. The song is based upon the track “The Longest Night” by Magne Furuholmen, which was released on his album A Dot of Black in the Blue of Your Bliss. The single was released on 22 May in Germany. The band promoted the song by playing it during the final of Germany’s Next Topmodel on 21 May in the Lanxess Arena, Cologne.