Album- Halcyon
Artist- Ellie
Goulding
2012 has definitely been a great year for Goulding, with her
song lights becoming a hit on the American charts and pretty the whole world
taking notice of her. And she also released this new second album, presenting a
darker but also more epic sound. But is the album a musical growth or a step
back for the artist?
Track 1- Don’t Say a
Word
This track opener would have just perhaps worked better as a
shorter intro track as it just is stretched too long, with the lyrical
repetition becoming annoying at a certain point in the listening process. But
it works in welcoming us to the transition of Goulding’s sound in terms of
being just all-round grander. The clattering, booming beats and the vocal
lamentation in places makes for a deep track that sets up the album in a nice
way.
3/5
Track 2- My Blood
This mid to down tempo offering is track that powerfully
offsets itself with delicate verses and heavy, loud choruses. Lyrically
the concept of love and blood is
magically transformed into a relationship lamentation with real desperate, and
the vocal in the track is great, being subtly played in the verse whilst
layered in the chorus to give a transcending flavour to the song. And the
production is good, with simple guitar and piano instrumentation leading into a
thumping chorus beat, and the Lumineers esque transition into the final section
of the song is simple but nice touch.
4/5
Track 3- Anything
Could Happen
The first single off of the record is a slice of pop
deliciousness. Sonically it melds a sense of electronic production with pop
sensibilities, and the uplifting nature of track is helped by the vocal
distortion of Goulding’s vocals post chorus. The only thing I would say about
this track is that for me it seems to be a bit of a grower, as the repetition
of the refrain could seem annoying rather than uplifting. But after repeated
listens you find yourself caught up in the positivity of the track.
4/5
Track 4- Only You
The vocal ooh ooh beat to this song which features
prominently in the intro is a great example of subtleness within this track,
creating a simple moment that is kind of like an earworm in your brain. The
clattering beats link well with the tug of war kind of lyrics which is great
for someone who feels safe in their lover’s arms. And it links well with the
previous track in terms of sentiment but also sound differently sonically, with
a slightly more down tempo flavour but a handclapping production that also
features some great vocal distortion that allows for an atmospheric take on the
music. The vocals don’t necessarily enhance the song but in moments they work
well and throughout are always on point.
3.5/5
Track 5- Halcyon
The album’s title track is a little bit misleading as the
song is not a soaring number in linking with its bird namesake but is a down
tempo offering that gives a retrospective take on love. True the chorus is
powerful with the vocal repetition of “it’s going to be better” and the
clattering production emphasis, but throughout most of the song Goulding plays
more into the lower register of her voice and allows the love lyrics to do the
talking. And the production is another example of simple quality that never
overshadows the artist. The only slight criticism is that it is a little repetitive
and so feels just that bit incomplete.
3/5
Track 6- Figure 8
This is an amazing song in many ways. Lyrically it is very
smart and intriguing, having a sense of simplicity whilst also being
conceptually very cool. And the delicacy of Goulding’s vocals shines through in
the verses, whilst they are elevated to give a kick to the chorus. But the
great thing about this track is the way in which producers MONSTA and Mike
Spencer handle the production of the track. The delicacy of the verses is
showcased through Goulding’s vocals and so production is simple within these
sections of the song. But the powerful production of the chorus in which a
strong beat is established gives a great energy to the track that establishes
this as a powerful song. And the final moments of the song give a great dupstep
flavour to the track that features a great use of vocal distortion and a
fitting end to this bombastic song.
5/5
Track 7- JOY
After the power of the last track the album shift back to a
more down tempo state with this song. The poetic quality of the track plays out
like a kind of story, and a message that Goulding has learnt things through
just living life. The melding of the slow-down, violin led verses with fast
paced, violin and vocal led chorus gives a great power to the song. And as it
gets to its final moments it really gets going, having that choral feel with
the use of a chorus of vocal singers that gives an epic quality, with the final
simple and delicate vocal ad libs at the end showing that it is always the star
who shines.
3.5/5
Track 8- Hanging On
This active child number is a great example of the
electronic music really allowing Goulding to flourish as an artist. The
acoustic guitar opening leads into a subtle but steadily rising drum and
electro beat driven production, and this gives a really forceful and pleasing
quality to the track. And whilst lyrically it is hard to comment upon the song
as it is a cover, it definitely fits into Goulding’s wheel house in terms of
sentiment. But the best thing about the song has to be the way that she sings
the track, with the electronic vocal distortion at the beginning allowing for a
subtle but atmospheric opening to the track, and the way that she plays around
with going between lower and higher keys with her voice really giving that
sense of her not being able to hang on.
4/5
Track 9- Explosions
This is another delicate song but as that real grand feel to
it. It’s hard to explain why this is such a good song, and I feel that all I
have to say is listen to the track and just let the goodness wash over you.
4.5/5
Track 10- I Know You
Care
This is another simple and delicate track that is even more
tightly structured in its simplicity and the last track. Although having to
ballad numbers back to back is a little bit of a stumble in terms of song
placing as it makes us feel a little bit sad, this track is still a beautiful
song. The simple refrain of “know you care” simply sums up what this track is
all about lyrically, infused with a palpable sense of love. And with the
unassuming piano instrumentation and chorus like vocal ad libs, this ideology
really shines through. Plus, with added bonus of the natural delicacy of her
voice, Goulding easily makes this song a great listen.
3.5/5
Track 11- Atlantis
This track lives up to its mystical namesake in terms of
sound. The vocal lifts Goulding’s voice to one of the highest levels in terms
of her range, giving the track an ethereal quality. And whilst this might
distract from the lyrics, with the chorus a little repetitive, production wise
the track has that crescendo building feel throughout, with the verses being
light and subtle harps used whilst the chorus contains a booming stop and start
beat .
3/5
Track 12- Dead in the
Water
This final track is last haunting number that makes the
album feel a little bit weighed down, but the song is still good. And how good
it is lies in the fact that whilst similar to other tracks this is the most
simple, stripped back and vulnerable song, with a vocal that goes into the
higher depths of her voice whilst still retaining a soft, delicate edge. And
with simple violins that build to a rousing finale, it’s a chilled out official
end to the album (if you discount the Harris bonus track.
4/5
Track 13- I Need Your
Love (Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding)
This bonus track features Goulding teaming up with the
current hit maker that is Calvin Harris. And the result is really great, even
if it does sound like familiar Harris territory. Vocally the fast pace nature
of the song gives an innate strength to her voice, whilst the simple chorus gives
that sense of her really needing your love. And production wise Harris doesn’t
overpower Goulding but makes for a typical but great dance section after the
chorus. And lyrically Gouldings deepness teams well with Harris more
straightforward pop sensibilities.
4/5
Final Review
The whole album just has that feel of a grand sound mixed
with astute lyrics and a definite sense of who Goulding is as an artist. And as
she pushers the boundaries sonically and does a little darker and deeper, it’s
definitely a step up from her Lights debut.
8.5/10
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