When it comes to electro pop; Merok Records have a rather special knack for sorting the wheat from the chaff. The label who helped to nurture Klaxons, Crystal Castles and Salem from embryonic indie acts to global critical acclaim look to have picked out another star of the future in Peckham’s slightly misleadingly monikered Deptford Goth.

The man behind those fidgety electronic stabs and floaty dreamlike intonations is one Daniel Woolhouse; who although operating under the alias for some time has yet to produce a full length release. All that is set to change in the New Year as the South Londoner prepares to unleash his as yet untitled debut LP on Merok and if recent teaser track “Union” is anything to go by; fans of How To Dress Well and James Blake will soon be bowing down at the feet of a new electro/R&B demigod. His work may feature all the distant drip drops of percussion, seductively whispered vocal loops and heartbeat skipping synthetic sweeps of Krell and Blake but Deptford Goth is no copyist; you might think the bandwagon is already well over capacity but we’re certain the bruised emotion embedded in every intimate track Dan Woolhouse creates will push him way ahead of the chasing pack next year.

(Ed’s note: Deptford Goth’s Union also made it onto our opening 22tracks playlist)