Album- Halcyon Days
Artist- Ellie
Goulding
Ellie Goulding seems to be one of those artists who goes
from strength to strength, with her Halcyon era producing such hits as Anything
Could Happen and Explosions. But her amazing dance collaboration with DJ Calvin
Harris seems to be a definite turning point in the singers career, showing how
her light and distinctive vocals really work well within the dance genre.
Halcyon Days acts as not only an extension of an already great album that was
Halcyon, but it marks a kind of new level of Goulding as an artist, as she
creates an extension steeped in powerful beats and some lighter touches.
Sometimes re-released versions of albums are really bad, only offering us one
or two new songs, but here Goulding provides us with 8 new tracks and
potentially gives us a whole new album in the process. The question is, should
this have been done, or is Halcyon Days something of a failure.
Track 1- Burn
The re-releases beginning number and lead single is a
markedly different offering from the singer compared to Halcyon’s previous
offerings, in that the sound is a little more light synth and dance driven. The
song lyrically focuses on Goulding expressing the positive message of her and
other people having this great energy and being able to release this energy in
a great way. The song is bound in really catchy hooks and is elevated by the
ethereal essence of Goulding’s voice, which makes the song feel a little less
bland dance number and something a little more unique. Producer Greg Kurstin
provides a powerful production to the track which focuses on these light and
catchy synths that dips in and out of power and intensity, and which nicely
shows of Goulding’s voice to good effect. It may be a bit of a radio friendly
number, but this is still a really great number in Goulding’s music arsenal.
4/5
Track 2- Goodness
Gracious
Co- written with fun. frontman Nate Ruess and featuring
production from Kurstin once again, Goodness Gracious continues the light,
synth driven pop of the first track going, with a slightly bouncier feel that
makes this tune have this almost tropical edge. The song’s lyrics show the
singers lighter sensibilities as she sings of her feelings for this boy and how
she just keeps continually calling him and crawling back into his arms, but is
in this state of wanting him but also not really wanting him too much. Kurstin
once again gives bouncy synths and this refreshingly powerful pop sound that
nicely suits the lightness and delicacy of Gouldings voice and which makes for
another addictive tune for the re-issue. The only issue I have with this song
is that for me the vocals are a little bit too distorted, not sounding too bad
but losing some of the charm that Burn managed to retain despite the vocal
distortion on that track.
3.5/5
Track 3- You, My
Everything
You, My Everything continues with the up tempo dance pop
territory that the re-issue goes into, but here we are given a song that feels
a little bit more like what Halcyon was based in, in terms of the emotional
fragility and the heartfelt purity of the lyrical content. Goulding sings of
how her lover, who was her everything, could have given her more, but she loves
him still. The song taps into the love that exists after a break up very well,
and the delicacy but power of the singers voice really comes into its own here.
The production of the song, however, elevates the intensity of the tracks
message by bombarding the listener with heavy bass and jump around now dance
beats, creating a sound that makes the passion and fragility of the lyrics that
touch more potent.
3.5/5
Track 4- Hearts
Without Chains
Teaming up with former collaborator Fraser T Smith , Hearts
Without Chains takes things to a more organic musical level that would have
made this a welcome addition to the original Halcyon set. The song finds the
singer pleading with her lover to not bring down love, and with time there love
would be able to flourish. The song has a metaphorical poetry that Goulding
does so well, whilst the singers voice naturally has this soft and delicate
edge that brings out the sadness and tenderness of the song beautifully. Smith
does a great job with the production in terms of keeping things subtle but
dramatic with the steady bass and the piano instrumentation, and so whilst this
changes things up from the dance heaviness of the former tracks, it acts as a
nice reminder of where the singers roots will always be.
3.5/5
Track 5- Stay Awake
(featuring Madeon)
Originally an exclusive track for the supermarket chain
Tesco, the stomping track Stay Awake becomes a new Halcyon Days number, and
perfectly fits with the dance, upbeat driven essence that really permeates the
re-release. Lyrically the track is similarly to Burn in terms of the idea of
being positive and using love in a powerful way, with Goulding providing a
vocal performance that feels a bit more powerful and urgent than usual. Rising
producer Madeon provides an anthemic sound for the track with the heavy dance
beats and twinkling electronic rhythms, creating a stomping dance number that
is another refreshing change of pace for Goulding as an artist.
3.5/5
Track 6- Under
Control
Under Control takes things to more of a powerful and
dramatic place than stay awake, and finds Goulding in a confident frame of
mind. Lyrically the track finds the singer taking control of her life and
feeling rejuvenated now that her former lover is out of her life. The
metaphorical lyrics border on cliché but ultimately creates potent imagery that
perfectly captures the emotion of the song, and with the drama of the track,
Goulding is really able to release her vocal power and create a song that is
full to the brim with emotion, but which also feels controlled in a good way.
The stuttering synths, stirring strings and heavy bass of the tracks production
makes the song more impactful on the listener, and so this would make a great
single in terms of contrasting with Burn a little whilst also retaining the
same sound as that single in a way.
3.5/5
Track 7- Flashlight (featuring
DJ Fresh)
If teaming up with DJ Calvin Harris wasn’t enough, Goulding
has now teamed up with another strong force in the dance music scene, DJ Fresh.
Flashlight doesn’t have the catchy class of that Harris collaboration, but it
is a strong dance offering that once again sees Goulding in a confident state
of mind, as she sings of coming into this guy’s life and making him love her so
fast she can’t lose. The vocal distortion on the singers voice add a quirky
texture to the vocal performance that further develops the fast paced, powerful
dance energy of the track, whilst Fresh brings his powerful drum n bass led
dance sound to create a stomping song that is a cool collaboration.
3.5/5
Track 8- How Long
Will I Love You
The final Halcyon Days track is a short but beautiful love
song that is a cover of a song originally by The Waterboys. The song has a
poetic lyricism as Goulding sings of the many ways in which she can express
this eternal love for her man, and much like her cover of Your Song by Elton
John, Goulding makes the song her own with her delicate vocals and the heart
that she puts into her work. The stirring strings and simple piano of the
production act as a final reminder that above all the synths and dance music,
Goulding is a very organic artist with a true talent, and so this is not just
an accomplished cover, but an accomplished end to Halcyon Days.
4/5
Final Review
Halcyon Days is a great re-release in that it acts as both a
great comparison to the original album, but also as a great contrast to the
original record, in that there is a lightness and confidence within this record
that brings new magic to Goulding’s work. The singers choice of new
collaborators definitely work, whilst a few songs remind us of the Goulding of
old, and so in every way this re-release is just exciting and reminds people
that Goulding is a really promising artist who evolves all the time.
8/10
Best Track- How Long
Will I Love You
Worst Track- You, My
Everything
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