Album: Tommy Sparks, Tommy Sparks, (Island)

Tommy Sparks is the Swedish-born, Kilburn-based wunderkind who announced himself last year with a stunningly assured electro-rock single, "I'm a Rope".

On his debut album, Sparks specialises in euphoric, synth-based, 1980s-derived pop. However, as the likes of "Health Club" and "Brand New Love" prove, he can do "elegiac" too. We're blessed to be living through a time when there's so much of this DIY autopop being made, and Sparks is an especially vibrant example thereof.

Pick of the album: Killer on the noose: 'I'm a Rope'