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With her 2010 debut, Lights, and the expanded Bright Lights, British vocalist Ellie Goulding bridged the gap between the soulful adult contemporary beltings of Adele and the more primal indie rock gospel of Florence + the Machine. Gifted with a disarmingly throaty -- yet still resonant -- voice and attractive, girl-next-door charisma that combines Kate Bush's cherubic art pop croon mixed with the asymmetrical half-smile charm of Drew Barrymore, Goulding stood out among the sea of post-Imogen Heap synth folk songstresses such as Little Boots, La Roux, and Lykke Li. On her sophomore effort, 2012's Halcyon, Goulding moves in an even more arty, electronic direction. Where Lights featured a handful of well-crafted singer/songwriter-styled singles such as "Guns and Horses" and the disco-bliss number "Starry Eyed," Halcyon keeps the singer/songwriter lyricism, but expands upon the electronic and symphonic palette. Aside from a few songs like the gutting, bittersweet piano ballad "I Know You Care" -- which itself brings to mind her smash 2010 cover of Elton John's "Your Song" -- Halcyon is largely built around epic long-form anthems and shimmery moments of gargantuan synthesizer drama. Tracks like the baroque "My Blood" and lustful club-groover "Figure 8" have a crisp, pulsating electronic buoyancy that, as with all of the songs on Halcyon, vibrate with a palpable dramatic tension. Also in keeping with the arty-electronic atmosphere of the album, Goulding dresses up her powerful lark of a voice with a delicately laced veil of digital effects. She sets these sparkling, multi-tracked vocal sections against roiling arpeggiated grand piano lines, the digital pluck of harps, echoey orchestral samples, and the ever present hum of deep bass synth. Goulding has a strong enough voice that when she toured with the decidedly more rootsy blues and country-influenced American songwriter Lissie in 2010, they brought the house down with several pitch-perfect, soulful duets, so the move toward a more atmospheric, sonically layered approach feels decidedly more like a conscious aesthetic choice. In that sense, she seems to be striking a balance between her more arty inclinations and a kind of adult contemporary, Annie Lennox-style professionalism. Perhaps Goulding illuminates her strong suits best on her enigmatic single "Anything Could Happen," in which she belts out a kind of post-traumatic affirmation for letting go and moving on to brighter things. She sings "Letting darkness grow/As if we need its palette and we need its colour/But now I've seen it through/And now I know the truth/That anything could happen." An ambitious work by an artist intent on developing her total sound, Halcyon finds Goulding poised at the edge of artistic and career possibilities.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
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Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Eliot, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Audio Concept, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Mima Stilwell, ComposerLyricist - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Eliot, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Audio Concept, Synthesizer Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The London Community Gospel Choir, Choir - Sally Herbert, Vocal Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Graham Archer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Eliot, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Audio Concept, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Joel M Peters, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Matthew Ward, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Koster, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Metcalfe, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Richard George, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Fiona Bonds, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Burdge, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Sally Herbert, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Sophie Harris, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Graham Archer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Gillon Cameron, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Max Baillie, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Baptie, Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Natalia Bonner, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Byers, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Kate Robinson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James Eliot, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Audio Concept, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nina Foster, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Emma Parker, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Oliver Langford, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Gareth Griffiths, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Joel M Peters, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Ben Baptie, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Eliot, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Audio Concept, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Ellie Goulding, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mike Spencer, Producer, Mixer, Additional Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jonny Lattimer, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Rocky Morris, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Rufio Sandilands, Producer, ComposerLyricist - I See MONSTAS, Producer, Additional Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Matthew Ward, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Koster, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Metcalfe, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Richard George, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Fiona Bonds, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Burdge, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Sally Herbert, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Sophie Harris, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Graham Archer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gillon Cameron, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Max Baillie, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Baptie, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Natalia Bonner, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Byers, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Kate Robinson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James Eliot, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Audio Concept, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nina Foster, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Emma Parker, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Oliver Langford, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Gareth Griffiths, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Joel M Peters, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ariel Rechtshaid, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billboard, Producer - Patrick James Grossi, ComposerLyricist - Richard Vincent, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Philippe Dumais, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
George Murphy, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Fortis, Producer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ashley Krajewski, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ben Baptie, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kirsty Mangan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Matthew Ward, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Koster, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Metcalfe, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Richard George, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Fiona Bonds, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Burdge, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Sally Herbert, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Sophie Harris, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Graham Archer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Producer, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gillon Cameron, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Max Baillie, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Baptie, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Natalia Bonner, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Byers, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Kate Robinson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James Eliot, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Audio Concept, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nina Foster, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Emma Parker, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Oliver Langford, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Gareth Griffiths, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Joel M Peters, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Adam Miller, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fin Dow-Smith, String Arranger, Piano, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Starsmith, Producer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kirsty Mangan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Hannah Dawson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rachael Lander, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - John Prestage, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ruth Gibson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Ash Howes, Producer, Mixer, Additional Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Richard "Biff" Stannard, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Ellie Goulding, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Rocky Morris, Producer, Drums, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Rufio Sandilands, Producer, Drums, Keyboards, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - I See MONSTAS, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Marc Bell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Talay Riley, ComposerLyricist - Billboard, Producer - Mathieu Jomphe Lépine, ComposerLyricist - Philippe Dumais, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Philippe Look, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Fin Dow-Smith, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Synthesizer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Starsmith, Producer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lee Slater, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Clegg, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Patrick Okogwu, ComposerLyricist - Tinie Tempah, Rap Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Goulding, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ariel Rechtshaid, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billboard, Producer - Patrick James Grossi, ComposerLyricist - Richard Vincent, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Philippe Dumais, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Ash Howes, Producer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Richard Stannard, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Ellie Goulding, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Malcomson, Programmer
℗ 2010 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Album review
With her 2010 debut, Lights, and the expanded Bright Lights, British vocalist Ellie Goulding bridged the gap between the soulful adult contemporary beltings of Adele and the more primal indie rock gospel of Florence + the Machine. Gifted with a disarmingly throaty -- yet still resonant -- voice and attractive, girl-next-door charisma that combines Kate Bush's cherubic art pop croon mixed with the asymmetrical half-smile charm of Drew Barrymore, Goulding stood out among the sea of post-Imogen Heap synth folk songstresses such as Little Boots, La Roux, and Lykke Li. On her sophomore effort, 2012's Halcyon, Goulding moves in an even more arty, electronic direction. Where Lights featured a handful of well-crafted singer/songwriter-styled singles such as "Guns and Horses" and the disco-bliss number "Starry Eyed," Halcyon keeps the singer/songwriter lyricism, but expands upon the electronic and symphonic palette. Aside from a few songs like the gutting, bittersweet piano ballad "I Know You Care" -- which itself brings to mind her smash 2010 cover of Elton John's "Your Song" -- Halcyon is largely built around epic long-form anthems and shimmery moments of gargantuan synthesizer drama. Tracks like the baroque "My Blood" and lustful club-groover "Figure 8" have a crisp, pulsating electronic buoyancy that, as with all of the songs on Halcyon, vibrate with a palpable dramatic tension. Also in keeping with the arty-electronic atmosphere of the album, Goulding dresses up her powerful lark of a voice with a delicately laced veil of digital effects. She sets these sparkling, multi-tracked vocal sections against roiling arpeggiated grand piano lines, the digital pluck of harps, echoey orchestral samples, and the ever present hum of deep bass synth. Goulding has a strong enough voice that when she toured with the decidedly more rootsy blues and country-influenced American songwriter Lissie in 2010, they brought the house down with several pitch-perfect, soulful duets, so the move toward a more atmospheric, sonically layered approach feels decidedly more like a conscious aesthetic choice. In that sense, she seems to be striking a balance between her more arty inclinations and a kind of adult contemporary, Annie Lennox-style professionalism. Perhaps Goulding illuminates her strong suits best on her enigmatic single "Anything Could Happen," in which she belts out a kind of post-traumatic affirmation for letting go and moving on to brighter things. She sings "Letting darkness grow/As if we need its palette and we need its colour/But now I've seen it through/And now I know the truth/That anything could happen." An ambitious work by an artist intent on developing her total sound, Halcyon finds Goulding poised at the edge of artistic and career possibilities.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 01:09:51
- Main artists: Ellie Goulding
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Polydor Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2014 Polydor Ltd. (UK) ℗ 2014 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
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