April March - Triggers (2003)

April March's second full-length solo album, "Triggers," is an improvement over her first, which was a bit unfocused at times. This is a laser sharp recording guided by the firm and wildly talented hand of French producer Bertrand Burgalat. Together, he and March have created a wonderful, modern interpretation of the French pop sounds of the '60s. In fact, other than in the case of some of Serge Gainsbourg productions and the odd Françoise Hardy single, they have topped the sounds that inspired them here. Burgalat uses standard rock instruments plus a wealth of strings and funky old analogue synths to create a variety of moods for March to work her magic on. They range from the outer space hip-hop of "La Nuit Est Là," hard-rocking garage sounds on "Somewhere up Above," and laid-back, soft rock on "Le Code Rural" to the funky grooves perfect for go-go dancing on "Triggers," spy music on "Coral Bracelet," which has a chorus that shines like the first day of spring, and the glittering "Zero Zero." Every track is like a production textbook dated 2003. Brilliant is the word that springs instantly to mind. People should be beating a path to his studio to beg him to work his magic on their music. Certainly March must be glad she did. Though at times she seems like a role player on her own album, upon repeated spins her charms become readily apparent. She uses her wisp of a voice perfectly whether during breathy spoken word bits or while melting hearts or belting out (in a demure way, of course) those tricky French lyrics. And her visual style is unerringly glamorous and spot-on in recreating the era. Everything about this album just works -- nearly perfectly. It is highly recommended that anyone who is a fan of '60s French pop or great pop made with imagination and style needs to get this record into their collection as quickly as possible.