The album that most German music fans have been waiting for with bated breath, however, is Patricia Kaas's new release le Mot de passe. Ms. Kaas, who was born in a coal-mining region of Lorraine, has become a major star on the German music scene over the past few years, so the release of her new album was guaranteed a warm welcome. Needless to say, le Mot de passe (released mid-May on the Sony Music label) has already rocketed into the German album charts where it is currently hovering around n°26. Meanwhile, the CD album of the hit French musical Notre-Dame de Paris has also been released on the German market. (However, like their international counterparts, German music fans will have to wait until the end of the year before they can listen to the album of the English version of the show).

A quick glance at the new releases in Germany this season just goes to show how diverse Francophone culture has now become. Following hot on the heels of Patricia Kaas, Swiss star Stephan Eicher is also back in the music news this month with the release of his new album Louanges. Like Patricia Kaas, Stephan Eicher has grown up with both French and Germanic influences and his new album will doubtless please audiences from both cultures. Eicher's new album, released on EMI, is yet another collaboration with the singer's loyal songwriter, the well-known French novelist Philippe Djian.

Meanwhile, French Canadian star Roch Voisine, who has been absent from the European music scene over the past few years, is attempting to make a comeback with his new album Chaque feu (ARIS). So it's 'bonne chance' to you, Roch! As for Tarkan, the King of Turkish Pop, he has already scored a huge hit on the German music scene with his eponymous new album. Tarkan, whose albums are produced in France, shot to fame in Europe with his best-selling single Simarik, and his album is now doing well in several German-speaking countries including Austria and Switzerland.

Polyglot Greek diva Nana Mouskouri has recorded in several different languages over the past thirty years and the label Tonträger Service has chosen to give German music fans a taste of Nana's French period (with the release of the album Dans le soleil et dans le vent). Meanwhile, PMS are cashing in on the success of rising Franco-Belgian star Lara Fabian, re-releasing the young singer's first two albums Carpe diem and Pure.

The old generation

While a new generation of Francophone stars are making their début on the German music scene, the older generation are still hanging on too. French star Hugues Aufray may have just turned 67, but he's determined to stay in the media spotlight with his brand new album Chacun sa mer (released on Ninety-Nine Records).

Meanwhile, Julien Clerc has just celebrated his 50th birthday, but he's also keen to prove he's still going strong. Hot back from a successful tour of America and Asia (c.f. the Petit Journal Archives), the French star has just released a Greatest Hits compilation in Germany. Julien Clerc has already toured in Germany several times, so there should be no shortage of fans to buy the new compilation album, entitled A rendez-vous with Julien Clerc (EMI).

German music fans will also be able to discover the work of another French star, Salvatore Adamo, who has just released a Greatest Hits album entitled Single hit (on the Delta label). There's also a touch of poetry in the air on albums by those eternal French favourites Léo Ferré (Chansons, Elikon), Romain Didier (J'ai noté, Ninety-Nine Records) and the legendary Saint-Germain muse Juliette Gréco. (Gréco's label has just re-released four of the singer's best-known albums - Déshabillez-moi, Je suis comme je suis, le Temps des cerises and un Jour d'été et quelques mois). And since no round-up of French music would be complete without a mention of the legendary chanson star Edith Piaf, let's also remind you that Piaf has been honoured in EMI's Legends of the 20th Century collection (recently released in Germany).

From France or elsewhere in the world

Moving onto the rock section, German music fans will be able to discover 's debut album, Dolly (which was originally released on the East West label in 1998). They will also be able to find a re-release of French singer/songwriter Kent's old group Starshooter. (Starshooter's early 80's album Chez les autres has just been released on Ninety-Nine Records). And for those interested in getting a taste of the much raved-about French techno/electro scene, there's the release of the EP Machine pour les oreilles by Montpellier-based duo Rinôçérôse (Rough Trade).

The world music section is also looking particularly well-stocked in German record shops this month with the release of a new album by Cesaria Evora. The Cape Verdean diva, whose albums are produced in France, is back in the music news with Café Atlantico (released on ARIS). Meanwhile, Fenn Music are also re-releasing Cesaria's Greatest Hits on a special compilation, entitled simply Cesaria. The Corsican group I Muvrini are also back on the German music scene with their new album Leia (EMI), and Portuguese singer Bevinda (who has set up home in Paris) is also trying her luck with her new album Chuva de anjos (Penn Music).

German jazz fans are also in for a treat this month with the release of the André Ceccarelli Quartet's new album Sixty-One: Thirty-Two (BMG Classics), Jacques Bertin's Changement de propriétaire (Helikon), Henri Tixier & Azur's Mosaic Man (EFA), the 's eponymous new album (EMI) and last - but very definitely not least - an amazing concert recording made by the late French jazz star Stéphane Grappelli (released on In-Akustik). So happy listening to all our German friends - and stay tuned for more international news coming up very soon!