So no sooner does Jean-Michel Jarre release the massive retrospective set Planet Jarre - a four disc, 41 track collection - than he announces the release of a new album in just a matter of months.
November sees the releas of Equinoxe Infinity, marking the 40th anniversary of the 1978 release of his original Equinoxe album.
I've always liked Equinoxe, and while it perhaps doesn't get the same level of respect as Oxygene does, it really was the work that confirmed Oxygene was no one-off piece, and that as an artist he had more to offer.
Given the scale of the impact of Oxygene, and the attention it received again with the later two volumes in the trilogy, it's perhaps understandable that Equinoxe has perhaps been slightly overlooked. Time to put that right.
Oxygene's themes were developed over subsequent decades in the two other volumes, and its legendary status secured. But if you had to pick two Jarre albums that defined his aesthetic, it would probably be Oxygene and Equinoxe rather than any of the other volumes in the Oxygene trilogy.
The concept of Equinox, of anonymous and ambiguous observers watching over us is one that certainly rings true today. Technology might have advanced, but so do the questions that it provokes. Jarre, as always, ahead of his time.
The new collection features two different covers, one showing a future vision of man in harmony with nature, the other showing a potentially more destructive future.
Equinoxe Infinity is released on CD, vinyl and a deluxe box set on November 16.
A new video by Indochine, with a big budget treatment for the track Song for a dream, from their 13 album.
For such an unapologetically rock number, it's a filmic video without much reference to the band members. Something of a surprise too, as the band were expected to release the track Gloria featuring Asia Argento as a single. Perhaps recent events involving the actor led to it being put on hold for the moment.
It has been a landmark 12 months for Indochine, 13 being released in September 2017. A number one album in France and elsewhere in mainland Europe, the singles Un été francais and La vie est belle getting massive attention. Station 13 was released as a single just last month.
The album has been one of the band's biggest sellers. Not bad for a band that has been around since 1981.
Song for a Dream has emerged as one of the favourite tracks on the album, fans getting the chance to experience it live during the extensive touring they've done to promote the album.
Indochine have more live dates in November and December, including three shows at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris on November 14, 16 and 17.
If I had to choose a favourite French city, Rennes would be a strong contender. It's a scenic and historic place of course, but it also punches well above its weight in terms of its music scene.
Maybe it's the large student population, with a univesity and art school in the city. Or maybe it's something in Brittany's celtic culture, where pubs take a more significant place in society than the traditional French cafe, that helps support a thriving musical culture.
Or perhaps it is because it is far enough away from Paris that acts have the opportunity to practice their craft and develop organically at their own pace and in a supportive environment.
Like Liverpool, Manchester or Glasgow it has a vibrant musical landscape and history of its own, as well as providing a fertile ground for the artists of tomorrow.
While events like the Transmusicales attract international attention, today sees a smaller scale event in the city to celebrate the local talent. I'm From Rennes runs from today until September 23 and sees events at clubs, theatres as well as other venues including public squares and libraries.
The event describes itself as La rentrée de la scene Rennais - the return of the Rennes scene after the holidays.
Tonight sees contemporary rock act Février play at the Champs Libres in the city centre, and Maximilien and Praa bring electro and soul ouotdoors at Place de la Parcheminerie.
This weekend Square Guy Houist hosts microbreweries, street food and rock 'n' roll, with two days of a German biergarten vibe featuring local brewers, local bands and sets from local DJ.
There's much on offer over the next ten days. I'll feature some of the acts over the next few days, as rather than just list them here, they deserve a bit of attention in their own right as well.
A debut single by French teenage singer Julia, a graduate of The Voice Kids TV show, written by Mylène Farmer and her collaborator Laurent Boutonnat.
Farmer and Boutonnat were impressed by performances the youngster had posted on YouTube and decided to work with her, writing her debut single and overseeing the launch of her career.
Of course, the song's theme is meant to be a bit edgy and controversial for a 16-year-old female artist. All the more likely to get some attention. Maybe it's an echo of a modus operandi established by Serge Gainsbourg in the 60s although if you ask me old Serge had a bit more subtlety, wit and humour about his work.
If it all seems a bit familiar, maybe it is. Julia follows Alizée as a younger representative representative of Mylène Farmer and Laurent Boutonnat. Alizée also featured in a French TV show for kids - Graines de Star - in 1999 before releasing the similarly "edgy" single Moi...Lolita single in 2000.
It was a massive success, as was her debut album Gourmandises which sold over four million copies.
Farmer and Boutonnat wrote the songs on that dabut album and its follow up, overseeing the early years of her career until she was an established name in France and beyond.
Alizée's career continues, with her most recent album being 2014's Blonde. She's also a major star in France due to her appearances on France's Danse avec les stars TV show.
Given the immense popularity of the Farmer and Boutonnat brand in France, and their previous success with Alizée, they've not strayed too far from a successful formula.
As it coincides with the return of Mylène, Julia's debut release has emerged at just the right time to attract a huge amount of attention. Farmer and Boutonnat certainly know what they're doing.
If there's a release that will challenge Mylène Farmer's forthcoming new album as the biggest seller of 2018, it has to be the forthcoming final studio album by Johnny Hallyday.
Details confirming the title of Johnny's posthumous collection have been confirmed. The album will be called Mon pays c'est l'amour, the songs recorded in the months leading up to the legendary singer's death in December last year.
The album will be his 51st studio album, and features ten songs including Back in LA, J'irai parler au diable, Je ne suis q'un homme, and Made in Rock 'n' roll as well as the title track.
Johnny's widow Laeticia says that in the album there is a lot of what he wanted to say before he left. It will be an emotional listen for his fans. Hopefully it will live up to their expectations, there's a tendency for such posthumous releases to disappoint.
The cover picture by Dimitri Coste looks a close relative of his portrait used on the cover of Johnny's 2012 album L'Attente. While the new album features a black and white portrait, it seems to originate from the same photoshoot.
The ten track album will be released on October 19.
The first portion of names playing this year's Transmusicales festival in Rennes has been served up by the festival's organisers.
Fifteen of the acts playing the 40th edition of the event have been confirmed. Performances are held in the city centre at venue including the Ubu and the Liberté as well as at the Expo park on the edge of the city. Many of the shows in the city are free.
Transmusicales is a showcase for developing acts like no other. While featuring some of the best international acts, it has an equally well-curated selection of French acts.
Among the acts confirmed so far is Aloïse Sauvage, who might be better known for her performance in the film 120 beats per minute, but has also released several singles since 2015 establishing herself as a significant electro pop artist. Her most recent release, Hiver brûlant, was released earlier this year.
Other french acts include R&B soul act Praa, a Rennes local who has so far released a couple of critically acclaimed singles, Ryder the Eagle, the former drummer with Les Aves who has released a single and an EP so far in his solo career, and there's a DJ set by house/techno artist La Fraicheur.
Elsewhere the bill includes middle eastern psych rock from Al-Qasar, Afro-latin funk from Arp Frique, indie rock from Bodega from the USA, disco act Bruno Belissimo, afropop from Pongo, psych pop from Pressyes, veteran soul act Robert Findley, Armenian neo-traditional act The Naghash Ensemble.
American punk afrobeat act Underground System are playing, as are South Korean/UK pop act Wooze.
Contemporary (well, 60s and early 70s influenced...) British rock is represented by The Surrenders.
The main announcement of act playing this year's Transmusicales is made on September 20. This year's festival runs from December 5 to December 9.
September is the month when France traditionally gets back to business after the summer.
Folk return from the south and the west, from beaches or countryside, back to studies, school, work and their regular lives. Shops re-open, cafés return to their regular hours and the country gets back to its normal life after the traditional month away.
It's La rentrée, a special season in France that's also marked by the release of new books, new ideas and new resolutions after a relaxed summer. Time to get serious, time to get busy and time to put new ideas into practice.
September is also going to be a hell of a month for new music releases.
Christine and the Queens release Chris, the much-anticipated second album, on September 21. She's also appearing in London earlier in the month, on September 16, to discuss the album in public and answer questions from the audience. We'll be seeing more of her in November when she plays live dates across the UK.
Elsewhere in French megastar releases, the new collection from Mylène Farmer, emerges on September 28. Details of Désobéissance emerged last month with the unveiling of a massive poster in the centre of Paris featuring the cover artwork, a photograph by Jean-Baptiste Mondino.
The two singles that have been released from the album so far have both reached number one in the French charts, adding to Mylène's impressive record. I'd put money on Mylène's new album being one of 2018's biggest sellers by the end of the year.
There's also a new four-disc retrospective collection from Jean-Michel Jarre celebrating the 50th anniversary of his career released on September 14. Planet Jarre; 50 years of Music ranges from his best known work to rare material, and includes two new tracks and an unreleased demo from his Music for Supermarkets project, the legendary album that was only pressed on one copy before the master tapes were destroyed.
The new collection was curated by Jarre, with some remastering of the tracks to give them a fresher sound.
Elsewhere? There's a new album by Flavien Berger, a favourite of this blog, which drops on September 28. Contre-temps is his second album, a video for the track Maddy la Nuit emerging towards the end of last month.
Also, the very much looked forward to second album by Grand Blanc is in the pipeline with a September 14 release date. Their debut was one of this blog's favourites in recent years, their second sounds so far like something very special indeed.
Meanwhile, there are new albums by Thomas Dutronc and Zazie due this month as well, both due on September 7.
Much to look forward to, much to write about and plenty to listen to. Enjoy La rentrée musicale
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I've always liked Equinoxe, and while it perhaps doesn't get the same level of respect as Oxygene does, it really was the work that confirmed Oxygene was no one-off piece, and that as an artist he had more to offer. 
