On his debut, Daniel Boucher comes off like the French love child of Tom Waits and Nick Cave. His penchant for maintaining musical tension and taking unexpected turns keeps you on your toes, as he drops his low-register growl over crunchy alt-rock riffs, pop melodies and moody, atmospheric production. Whether he’s working up a feral howl at the climax of “Aidez-moi” or alternating between a smoky croon and a near-rap on the foreboding “Deviens-tu c’que t’as voulu?”, Boucher always takes us in surprising directions.