Review:
Ellie Goulding’s first album Lights
took a while to catch on in the States (as she found success much quicker in
her native United Kingdom), with her biggest hit (also titled) Lights climbing the
billboard Hot 100 for forty-two weeks, reaching number two. Her sophomore album
Halcyon again shows off Goulding’s wonderfully unique voice and electronic pop sensibilities.
Goulding started 2012 off releasing her cover of The Weeknd’s High for This (which is
fantastic) and followed it up with her cover of Active Child’s Hanging On (which is on
the album), setting the stage for Halcyon’s atmospheric dream pop sound and lyrics
dealing with love and loss – escaping the dark into the light.
The album is littered with great tracks (which
made it difficult for me to pick three for my ‘essential tracks’), showcasing
Goulding’s voice – both her singing ability and the use of her voice as an instrument
contributing to the music or beat of a song (for example: Explosions and I Know You Care). She has
one of the most interesting and different voices in pop music. It has a raw
quality to it that seems to add emotion and power to her songs, making them all
the more compelling.
Her single Lights and its
subsequent remixes have placed her among the most popular dance pop artists
right now, but instead of trying to capitalize on that market she has gone
another way with her sound. The album is still very much electronically
influenced and infused. But it is not a dance album, though there are a few
songs that are club ready (and certainly remix ready). It is much more
atmospheric, with almost an ethereal feel to many of the tracks. Goulding has
great producing chemistry with Jim Elliot who co-produced most of the songs
with her. Billboard, Starsmith, Calvin Harris, John Fortis, Justin Parker, and
MONSTA also worked on the album.
Unlike many pop artists
(especially younger popular singers), Goulding writes her songs. Halcyon is a
very personal album. It is not really a commercial pop album in as much as the
songs are not particularly catchy in terms of having killer hooks (that fans
can sing along with and get stuck in the heads of casual listeners). Again, the
album is more a complete work creating a feeling for the listener, and not a
collection of singles.
Halcyon is a better album than
Lights (I think), with Goulding growing and blossoming as an artist. It is well
worth checking out for fans of dream pop/synthpop. 4/5
Essential
Tracks:
