Daft Punk: Random Access Memories

Another piece of the puzzle that is the next Daft Punk album appears, with the confirmation of the album's name and release date.

The fourth album by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo is to be called Random Access Memories, and comes out on May 21.

Still no confirmation of any live dates, and the speculation around the Daft Punk release continues to build.

In the meantime, with so little to go by, some enterprising fans have made the brief musical background to advert clip that recently emerged  into a ten minute loop.



Others have taken the short clip and remixed it as well.



It's been the best part of a decade since their last full album, 2005's Human After All, so you can understand some of the excitement. While there have been live releases, remixes and soundtracks since, none of these have re-shaped the musical landscape as much as their full albums, nor have they really been intended to.

While many details remain to emerge, and expectations running high, the album is certainly one to look forward to. Fingers crossed that it lives up to the hype.

-M- : #mojodance

A great little video for Friday, with -M- unveiling the winner for his #mojodance video competition.

Matthieu Chedid asked fans to create their own versions of his Mojo clip, one of last year's most memorable videos.

The track originally came from the album Îl that was released in November. Mojo was released in August, and the track recalled a more rock orientated  -M- than some of his more recent work.

The album was met with critical success, and was a number one download on iTunes.

The track Océan was released as the second single from the album earlier this month.

-M- is currently on tour for much of the rest of the year, and those who submitted videos won tickets to see the nearest concert .

Lescop: La Nuit Americaine

As I mentioned earlier this year, Lescop's debut album is to get a UK release, and the date of its release has been confirmed as June 3.

It was one of my favourite releases of last year, and it's wonderful to see it getting some attention in the UK. While he's played dates over here before, hopefully the release of the album will lead to more shows on this side of the channel.

In the meantime, a video for the track La Nuit Americaine has emerged. The video was initially geographically restricted on youtube, but I'm pleased to get the chance to see it outside France and certainly worth the wait.

The video - more a short film - was directed by Sylvie Verheyde from an original idea by Mathieu Lescop.

Sylvie Verheyde has also directed a number of films, including 1997's un Frère which starred Emma de Caunes in a César-winning role, Princesses , Stella and 2011's Confession of a Child of the Century which starred Pete Doherty.

The video certainly puts Lescop's music in an appropriate dramatic context, and I'm sure its the kin do fthing we'll be seeing more of in the future.

Superbus: Smith 'n' Wesson

A new video from Superbus, this time it's the track Smith 'n' Wesson from their fifth album Sunset to get the big screen treatment.

The album was initially released in August last year, and the new clip has emerged ahead of live dates. They played some shows at the end of last year and are just about to undertake more dates, with a gig at the Olympia in Paris on April 2

It's the fourth song from the album to get promoted as a single, the tracks All Alone, A la chaîne, and Whisper getting issued already.

The band's last album, 2008's Lova lova was their most successful release so far, reaching number two in the French album charts. The new album's not matched that so far, but some more touring will no doubt raise its profile.

Singer Jennifer Ayache said in an interview that the album is to be re-issued as a special edition, featuring songs re-recorded with an orchestra, and while not confirmed, it would give the collection a well-deserved second chance at the market.

Superbus - Smith N Wesson Vidéo Superbus-clip sélectionnée dans Musique

Thomas Dutronc and Imelda May: Clint (Silence On Tourne)

A video for the track Clint (Silence On Tourne) by Thomas Dutronc with guest vocalist Imelda May

The two performers compliment each other's style well in this track, which originally came out in a different version on his 2011 album Silence On Tourne, On Tourne En Rond.

May did not feature on this original version on Dutronc's second album, a hugely successful album that saw the singles Sac Ado and Demain.

With Imelda May a far better known name in the UK and Ireland than Dutronc, the song might even attract some publicity at this side of the channel. The English lyrics probably make the song a bit more friendly to an anglophone ear as well.

The video has a great retro quality that also suits the style of the two singers, the song paying tribute to Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood, a director and star widely known to be a jazz lover. I'm sure he'll appreciate it.

May and Dutronc performed the track together at this year's Victoires de la Musique awards in February.

Festival: Festival Beauregard

Details of another summer festival in France have emerged, this time its the Festival Beauregard near Caen in Normandy.

Acts taking park include Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, New Order, Smashing Pumpkins, Alt-J, Bloc Party, The Hives, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Bat For Lashes, the Vaccines, Miles Kane, The Maccabees and Dead can Dance.

Among the French acts taking part are -M-, Olivia ruiz, Skip the Use, C2C and Benjamin Biolay.

It's the fifth time the festival's been held, and it looks like the biggest bill they've put on so far. Last year saw the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, Tindersticks, Sébastien Tellier and Franz Ferdinand play at the event.

The festival takes place on the 5th to the 7th of July.

Full details are on the festival's website http://www.festivalbeauregard.com/

Saez: Miami

A new album release by singer songwriter Saez, one of France's most distinctive voices.

There's little doubt in my mind that Damien Saez is quite simply one of France's best singer songwriters around at the moment, whether tacking personal or political matters, or whether working in a rock context or with an acoustic backing.

His last release was the Messina triple album collection that came out last year.

Meanwhile, the artwork for Miami has caused a row with the RATP insisting on posters being removed from the Paris Metro system

It's not the first time that artwork for his work has got him into trouble with the RATP, with the posters advertising his 2010 J'accuse album (a naked woman in a shopping trolley) earning a ban. And a considerable amount of debate as to the rights and wrongs of employing the image.

Much the same again this time, it seems.

The title track of the new album is available to download free from Saez's website http://www.saez.mu/

Saez is on tour across France from tomorrow, March 19, with dates at the Zénith in Paris on April 18 and 19.