My close encounters with the French in just the last week include: being squeezed on the subway home from work between two unrelated couples speaking French; finding a stockpile of berets in Screaming Mimi's; and hearing Daft Punk EVERYWHERE.

At the Beauty Bar in the East Village on Saturday night, "Around the World" was playing. And the next morning, in an Italian coffee shop in Brooklyn, "Around the World" again. In a Manhattan taxi cab, for a change of pace, "One More Time". Now more Daft Punk has arrived with the release of Alive 2007 last week. The album chronicles their recent acclaimed live work.

Between Justice, Oizo, SebastiAN and Daft Punk, French House has resurged onto the American music scene after a brief disappearance. Add MSTRKRFT and Simian Mobile Disco to that list, because while the two groups aren't French, the influence is clear. The first French surge came in the late-90s, when Daft Punk's debut, Homework, was released. Now, despite the duo's lackluster Human After All in 2005, French music is the pulse of the NYC dance scene.

What's with the invasion? Is it the strong Euro? The appeal of a whimsical, accessible dance sensibility in these uncertain times? Or just a je ne sais quoi?

Possible answers: 1) Daft Punk has fueled it all, with many acts citing them as influences, along with a wild live show that has spread the word. 2) 9/11, because that's the reason behind any current trend. 3) While being a hipster in NYC is definitely not super-cool, being a French hipster has caché. And, 4) Daft Punk, Justice and many other French acts are just...really good, with a willingness to appeal to American audiences by using English lyrics and incorporating American pop and disco.

We can all be proud that 2007 was the year the Freedom Fry was truly put to rest, and Justice made a great album. You can sop up the Gallic gravy two weeks from now at Studio B. They're hosting the official release party for Alive 2007.