4. Ellie Goulding, Halcyon
Electro-pop chanteuse Ellie Goulding, after the knockout success of debut album 'Lights' (and US release 'Bright Lights') took some time away to perfect her new sound and fortunately, new sophomore album
Halcyon (which means serene or tranquil) is a dramatic and yet utterly enjoyable shift in tone and style.
Halcyon takes more of a dance and drum-and-bass tone whilst remaining a pop record at heart, to great effect - lead single 'Anything Could Happen' is a gloriously optimistic ditty while album tracks such as 'Don't Say A Word' and 'Joy' are as sweetly gorgeous. However, the power in 'Halcyon' comes in the thrumming sledgehammer beats that form the bedrock of the album - standouts such as the powerful, strutting 'Only You' and the fierce 'Figure 8' use the instrumentation to dazzling effect. The album's best song? 'My Blood', a electronic song with a chorus as anthemic, raw and addictive as any you're likely to hear this year - add all that to lush balladry like 'I Know You Care' and 'Explosions' and you've got a fine slice of electro-indie-pop that triumphs Ellie's first album sonically and lyrically.