LONDON: Mamma Mia! The members of ABBA announced on Friday that they have recorded new material for the first time in 35 years.

The Swedish pop group said it had recorded two new songs, including one titled I Still Have Faith in You.

The news was announced in an Instagram statement from Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Faltskog.

The band won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo and had a sequin-spangled string of hits, including Dancing Queen and Take a Chance on Me before splitting up in 1982.

The band’s statement said the members reunited to plan a virtual tour featuring digital avatars, and decided to go back into the studio.

ABBA said “it was like time had stood still and that we had only been away on a short holiday. An extremely joyous experience!”

“I Still Have Faith In You” is due to be performed by the group’s holograms in a December TV special to be broadcast by the BBC and NBC. There was no word on when the second track will be released.

Ulvaeus revealed earlier this month that digitally created virtual band members Abbatars would perform in a television show this year, followed by a tour next year or in 2020.

The band members have performed together just once since the 1980s — at a private party in 2016 — and have long said they will never tour live together again.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2018