Morrissey's revelation earlier this month that he may retire from music was greeted with surprisingly little fanfare or comment. Perhaps the public have become wary of the singer's topsy-turvy moods - it's always wise to take what he says with a large helping of salt - but it still seems strange that one of British pop's most iconic figures could even contemplate bowing out in such a low-key manner.

With his 50th birthday coming up and early reports about his new Year Of Refusal album generally positive, fans need not get their hankies out yet. However, the album's lead single - no doubt approved by the French capital's tourist board - finds the crooner treading water musically. His trademark vocals are still in decent fettle, but the lyrics ("In the absence of your smiling face, I travelled all over the place") are unremarkable, covering his favoured topics of loneliness and isolation. A curious choice of single which suggests the fire in Mozza's belly may already be fading.


> Click here to watch the 'Paris' video