Ellie Goulding - Halcyon

What we thought:
 
Beautiful, sweet, endearing and meticulously crafted, Halcyon is a stunning display of Ellie Goulding's vocal and songwriting ability.

It's not a particularly light album – it's heavy, loaded and evocative while still offering many chart-worthy tracks. "Lights" and "Anything Could Happen" are already hits. 

The artwork draws this distinction between this, her second album and her debut, Lights. Here you see her in cool monochrome, her blonde mane depicted in icy shades, compared to the golden glow she displayed on Lights.

There's a subtle, authentic raspiness to her voice which she displays rarely but effectively. Listen out for it in the bridge of the intoxicating "Anything Could Happen". The production and electronic elements are perfectly woven into the purity of her vocals – it just makes for a cohesive and solid sound.

Best track:

There are so many good ones – "Anything Could Happen", "I Know You Care" and "Only You". But "Dead In The Water" is something special. Ethereal, honest and vulnerable, Ellie whispers with a choral quality: "I'm dead in the water / Still looking for ya / Why didn't you find me?" Instant goosebumps.

Worst track:

'Worst' sounds a bit harsh, but "My Blood" and "I Need Your Love" (with Calvin Harris) aren't nearly as memorable as some of the other hauntingly beautiful songs on Halcyon.

Sounds like:

This is a difficult one because Ellie's voice is so distinctive. If pressed, I’d say a softer, sweeter Robyn meets Dido. 

Listen to snippets of the tracks here: