Though he first surfaced on Quebec's televised singing competition Star Académie in 2009, Philippe Brach has pursued a musical path far more surprising and circuitous than that of the typical pop-star aspirant. His albums present a gritty folk rocker with an outsized irreverent streak, whether he's steering the light acoustic stomp of “La peur est avalanche” into a grungy guitar jam, or fashioning a country-gospel hymn out of nothing more than finger-snaps and spirited, soulful harmonies (“Bonne journée”). But his catalogue also abounds with moments of unfettered beauty, like the gleaming campfire serenade “Troupeaux”.