To celebrate two decades since he released his first album, La Fossette, Dominique A is pulling out the stoppers. Along with remastered editions of his eight albums and a new album due out in March, he’ll be re-creating his seminal minimalist pop opus on stage, in partnership with Paris’s Théâtre de la Ville. One of France’s most unusual singers shares his thoughts on past and present.

 

What with representing France at the Eurovision Song Contest next May and the release of her fifth album, Échos, Anggun’s French comeback is turning out to be something of an event. With her trademark charm, the singer of Indonesian origin discussed her selection for Eurovision 2012 with us, as well as her “disloyal” relationship with the French and their language, and the Asian reserve that underlies her latest, more personal, opus.

After earning her stripes with the Super Rail Band in Bamako, in late 2009 Inna Modja released a first soul-focused album underlined by simple touches of folk, pop and funk. Her new compilation Love Revolution champions the art of loving yourself and others. The pop and soul are still just as present, but with an additional dancefloor dimension.

Clearly, dEUS are still keen to explore new territories. But after a fragmented career lasting almost twenty years, what was left for the Belgian rock group of the nineties to come up with? Some better balance, perhaps, and a less frenetic rhythm, but it’s the level of ease in particular that makes Keep you close vintage dEUS. Tom Barman gave us his refreshingly frank and self-mocking take on the band’s sixth album.