Polydor
Indie Pop, 2010

Ellie Goulding’s critical acclaim may be overshadowed by Adele at the time of writing, but Bright Lights is a charming and eccentric melodious diorama that combines strong hooks with modern electronic dance elements. Ms Goulding’s lilting voice makes seem come off like a quaint and charming hybrid of Lily Allen and Kate Bush, and the tracks here are a fine side of sophisticated kooky.

Oh, and this is actually a reissue of Lights, with six new songs added, so you may wish to just buy the individual tracks instead if you already have Lights.

Her most commercially successful track, her cover of Elton John’s Your Song, is actually one of the weaker tracks here as it comes off like an awkward effort to force a familiar and overplayed song into Ms Goulding’s brand of sound. It doesn’t scream “a song by Ellie Goulding”, it is just a cover version, although the “Woah!” parts are pretty cute.

The other tracks are much more interesting, as Starsmith’s production plays very well in bringing out the most charming nuances of Ms Goulding’s vocal inflections. Lights is fabulous, with a killer no-nonsense chorus that is just begging for a sing-along. Songs like Under the Sheets, Starry Eyed, and Wish I Stayed are great too. The party never seems to stop here.

Bright Lights is a gorgeous amalgamation of Ms Goulding’s gorgeous vocals and minor key melodies with happening beats that work. This one may not endear itself to folks who prefer to listen to vocals that are undiluted by studio tinkering, but I personally find this one just great.