by LORRAINE CARPENTER

Out of a whirl of undulating strings, horns and vintage keyboards rises April March, a unique American chanteuse and faithful francophile. Her latest album is Triggers, her ninth disc since getting her yéyés out with 1995's Chick Habit, a celebration of Gainsbourg, Dutronc, Gall et al. Though still revelling in French retro sounds, March (aka Elinor Blake) has become an increasingly adventurous songwriter and arranger, with a little help from U.S. bands the Makers and Los Cincos and, most recently, French indie pop star Bertrand Burgalat.

In her early years, Blake shared the stage with Ronnie Spector, recorded demos with Brian Wilson, played with Jonathan Richman and, before tackling music full-time, drew for Archie Comics, worked on Pee-Wee's Playhouse and co-animated the first two seasons of Ren & Stimpy. And hey, kids, this successful, multi-talented, well-read, bilingual lady never went to college! She did, however, benefit from some home-schooling en français.

"My mother spoke French and bought Françoise Hardy records for my sister and I when we were really little, so it was natural for me to pursue it when I got older and started buying my own records," says Blake, who had to venture up to Montreal to find most of her beloved yéyé and French pop vinyl.

After moving from her hometown of New Haven, Connecticut, to New York City, Blake formed a garage girl group called the Pussywillows, but her bandmates and friends never shared her fondness for the French.

"When we would talk about doing a cover, I always suggested a French song but it was too weird for everybody," she says. "When we had parties, they'd put on the Angry Samoans or something and then I'd put on Gainsbourg or France Gall, and it completely blew people's minds. I had to start April March to do what I really wanted to do."

Blake brought her new moniker to L.A. and began recording with a new band, the Shitbirds. Albums with Los Cincos, the Makers and the Haves followed and, in 1996, Blake played France and met Burgalat, founder of the Tricatel label and leader of Paris's underground pop explosion.

"Things have vastly improved since he started making records and launched his label," states Blake, describing the enigmatic Frenchman as a serious composer who "likes a little mischief."

"Even Air were heavily influenced by Bertrand - which," she laughs, "is a bit of a point of contention - so I think he's definitely responsible for a renaissance."

Since their fateful rendezvous, Blake and Burgalat have collaborated on every project, he producing and writing her music on 1998's Chrominance Decoder and last year's Triggers, she contributing lyrics and vocals to his solo records, 2000's Sssound of Mmmusic and its upcoming, as-yet untitled follow-up.

In other news, Blake recently had a child and settled in Cleveland, where her husband scored a job with the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. Between tours, mothering and a little illustration work on the side, the singer is keeping her ear to Ohio's ground, in search of fresh collaborators.

"There's a thriving art scene and an incredible symphony out here too, and Oberland College is a great music school, so I'm pretty excited about exploring Cleveland - but," she promises, "I will always work with Bertrand. We're like family."

With guests at Petit Campus on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 8:30pm, $14.50

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