Ellie Goulding has re-invented herself with a new album and has channelled her musical genius into a different genre to what we’re used to hearing from her.
Ellie Goulding’s new album Delirium (Deluxe edition), released on November 6 is a drastic new sound for the singer. Delirum features 16 songs (and 23 for the deluxe version), allowing fans to jam out to the songs for a whole 90 minutes. The album’s catchy tunes and lyrics are set to become a constant play track in your head.
Ellie Goulding said on Twitter that her main inspiration for the album was her “best friend”. She also posted on Instagram that the song Army was a dedication to that friend, “I realised that I had focused on writing on past relationships and it hit me I had never written about my best friend”.
Delirium marks a new beginning for the singer due to the dramatic change in sound compared to her previous albums Lights and Halcyon. The departure from her previous electronic sounds and collaborations with artists such as Calvin Harris has led Goulding to tackle a range of different genres and let her listeners know she isn’t afraid to mix things up. To do that, Goulding has paired up with songwriters Greg Kurstin and Ryan Tedder to claim her place on the charts.
The album covers a range of sounds from disco-pop, R&B and her original electric beginnings. Goulding’s team is keen to replicate the success of Love Me Like You Do, so much so that they are willing to make Something In The Way You Move’s chorus virtually identical; perhaps helping her stay connected to her musical roots and not turning her fans off due to the change of style. The chorus of both singles repeats a generic beat following a similar lyric tone. The pauses in the melody seem to punctuate and break up the song and let the lyrics and melody blend together in a way that allows it to flow seamlessly from start to finish. The drums also seem to pick up during the chorus, which allows the listener to focus on the tune and tempo instead of the repeated lines that are sung in both choruses. However this flow, with the tempo and lyrics, seems to work for Goulding and makes her songs more interesting to listen to.
Army adds another emotion to the mix. The melody of this single is brought down to a softer level and focuses on the raw emotion behind Goulding’s lyrics. The listener is able to focus on what the lyrics are portraying and understand the truth behind each line. The softer tempo also allows Goulding’s voice to shine and is a nice change from the fast paced tempos of other songs on the album. The pace quickens when the chorus begins when Goulding’s voice and showcases her ability to sing in a range of different genres and sound levels.
The mood changes once again for the single, On My Mind. The tempo is sped up and mixes her old style of electro with pop leaving the track somewhere in the middle of the two genres. The dramatic pauses added to the tempo suits the lyrics perfectly and makes the song more interesting. The guitars and drums combine perfectly to create the beat and help fasten the melody to suit the single. The beat allows Goulding to have fun with the song and lets the lyrics shine through the melody and become more dominant.
Delirium is an album for people who love pop hits and electric tones. But be warned that the majority of songs feature heavily on romance. — Megan Simmonds
Top photo from Ellie Goulding’s Instagram account.
About the author
Megan Simmonds is a journalism student at Macleay College. You can follow her on Twitter @M_Simmonds
