A review of Deptford Goth's "Songs"

Time, again, to bathe in the sullen sunlight of Daniel Woolhouse's gauzy synth forests.

Listening to Deptford Goth (the aforementioned Mr. Woolhouse) is akin to being embraced by a warm ghost. He sounds like the younger, softer brother of James Blake. There is more sophistication here, and less lyrics about fuckin'. Don't misunderstand; Daniel will fuck you, he'll just cuddle and talk and, maybe, weep afterwards. Blake might buy you dinner.
Might.

I immensely enjoyed the first DG album, Life After Defo*, and, quite frankly, Songs** blows it away.
Those that shimmer the brightest and have the most impact include "Do Exist", a sparse and delicate hymn, utilizing the repetition of the gentle sobriquet "my love", as well as the phrase "fear's gonna let you go" to create a gorgeous emotional resonance, "We Symbolise", which features an absolutely fantastic pairing of deep piano and Woolhouse's high, sweet voice, "A Circle", and "Near To A River", which nearly brought me to tears with Woolhouse's persistent pleas to "lift (his) body up" and "make (him) kind". The album closes with "A Shelter, A Weapon", a perfect ending to this rolling sunrise.

On the whole, Songs is a lot brighter, both sonically and lyrically, than Life After Defo, reaching new heights of warmth with "Codes", with its friendly, lumbering beat, like a child's imaginary friend coming in to play. While it does lack the emotional nuances of his first album because of its overabundance of light, is that so bad? There's enough darkness in our everyday lives, and, thanks to Woolhouse, we can get a little respite here, with Songs. Listen to this in the dark, cry, then feel better and move on.

* My review of which can be found here.

** Kudos on the most boldly bland album title I've heard in years.