George Michael's new album

New music by George Michael could still be released, according to the late singer's manager and friend David Austin.

Austin let slip that "there is new music" to come, while speaking at a preview screening for Freedom, a forthcoming documentary he co-directed with Michael.

"There are two tracks in particular that we have, that are just extraordinary pieces of music," Austin told reporters at Channel 4's London headquarters.

Completed just two days before Michael's death on Christmas Day last year, Freedom offers a frank insight into the former Wham! frontman's life, from his early years up to his performance at the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. But that's not where the story ends, according to Austin, who says the singer spent his last five years working on an as-yet-unreleased record.

"We finished [the documentary] with the Olympics," Austin said at the screening in September. "I thought that was quite fitting. He opened the closing ceremony and it was a huge moment, and it felt right. The last five years of his career would have been more about the new album ... but it wasn't what we were doing."

The film, which will be broadcast on Channel 4 later this month, features interviews with many of Michael's famous friends and fans, including Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Liam Gallagher.

Michael was one of Britain's best-selling recording artists. By the time of his death, aged 53, he had sold more than 80- million records worldwide, and had 11 UK Number One singles, including 1984's Careless Whisper and 1996's Fastlove.

Last month, a remix of his song Fantasy (originally a collaboration with disco producer Nile Rodgers) was released as Michael's first posthumous single.

Reviewing the song, Telegraph music critic Neil McCormick called it "pure joy, because it brings us back to a singer in his prime".

Michael commissioned the remix himself last year, but died before it was completed. The song before will be featured in Freedom when it airs next week in the UK.

This article was first published at nzherald.co.nz and was republished here with permission.