Customer Reviews

Triggers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

this is one of THE best albums i have ever heard. a must-have for any collection and particularly for any franco-phile. completely enchanting, atmospheric, fun, dreamy and totally addicting. to quote a friend of mine who heard it for the first time today: "listening to this album is like feeling the sun warm your face".

This new album from the petite chanteuse, as i have heard her called in the past, is a rather large break from her previous efforts in that it does not rely so much on the cover song, or the style of the artists that were covered. Paris in April contained more than iit's share of cover songs originated by the giants of 60's french pop, and Chrominance Decoder consisted of original material that was a sort of reinterpretation of the above mentioned pop. Chrominance Decoder did that and still somehow come off as inventive and fresh, due in no small part to Bertrand Burgalat. Triggers is Elinor Blake's second collaboration with Burgalat, and a massive improvement on the first, I might add. There are hints of the previous album's sound throughout, the songs are in English and French, and the wonderfully catchy pop tunes are still present, but that's where the similarities end. The overall tone of this record is rather more serious and less optimistic than it's predecessor, in my opinion. Burgalat has once again done an excellent job arranging the poppy, synthesized music that works so well with the lovely and distinctive voice of April March, though as in the last album it occasionally sounds like background music from a Dario Argento slasher flick(not necessarily a bad thing!). Also, every song on this record is enjoyable, which cannot be said about the previous ones. And there are no songs sung in two different versions, English and French, like in the last two records, which made them a bit repetitive at times. Anyway, this review has gotten long and incoherent enough, so i'll bring it to a close: If you are a fan of Mlle. March, M. Burgalat, or any of the groups he or she have worked with, it would not be a bad idea to check this out.

I simply can't get enough of this new record of April March's. Like her last one, it is undeniably catchy, but there is a distinctly late night mood about this one. I would say this is the dark night to Chrominance's sunny day. It's as if the protagonist of the last one fell on some bad acid and made this album during her hallucinations.

Especially effective here are the opening, middle, and closing 'suites' that tie it all together. The instrumentals bring us into the mood of the album, gently pulling us in until the first catchy would-be single, 'Coral Bracelet'. Yes at times it all sounds like a freaky Argento score...but that is a good thing. Ms. March's latest will be a welcome surprise.

Don't let the darker mood fool you. There is still a lot of humor and cheekiness to this outing; it just feels more of a piece: mature and assured.

This is gorgeous. It's rare that I come across a record I have no reservations whatsoever recommending, but this is one of them. March's previous album Chromiance Decoder was bordering on greatness, but the pieces hadn't quite fallen into place. Triggers is a work of pure genius (with the underated Mr Burgalat again at the helm) and draws on French pop, rock, lounge, electro, even a little bubblegum, all melded together in an unexpected and attractive package. Triggers shows how inventive production, arrangements and talent can make absolute magic.

Ok, so I don't have much experience with French pop.. but goodness this is a beautiful album. I first heard of April March when a friend gave me her Chrominance Decoder album, and from there I had to find more. The sound is amazing to me, and I make music all the time. Bertrand Burgalat's got one of the coolest sounds I've ever heard.
I don't even speak French! But I love listening to her singing in English and French just the same. This album is an odyssey. Get it and listen through it start to finish!

Chrominance Decoder is still my favorite April March album. Triggers is more quiet and not so much faux French Pop, but still enjoyable if you like April's voice.

April March doesn't have the most amazing voice. She doesn't sing all fancy-like, but her voice is captivating. So kool and sweet. And the music on this CD is so retro, yet new at the same time, and also very trippy.
And her songs are very catchy.