It shouldn't surprise any
Ellie Goulding fan to know that the British songstress wrote music for the likes of
Gabriella Cilmi and
Diana Vickers before issuing this full-length debut. That's because
Goulding's sound doesn't stretch far from other teen Brit-pop artists of 2010, who are more likely to pull back and dig deep on a record than indulge in the froth of
Girls Aloud or
Sugababes.
Goulding finds a balance between both camps on
Lights. Ultimately,
Goulding's debut album is something of relevance; it lacks the dramatic crash and bang of
Florence + the Machine's Lungs, but is certainly a more restrained, compelling listen than the debut records by
Pixie Lott and
Little Boots, two artists whose electronic dance-pop is echoed here.
Goulding's quite the songwriter, and tracks like "This Love" and "Under the Sheets" suggest a willingness to indulge her creative side, taking left-hand turns and unexpected detours rather than focusing on sure-fire hits, like
Paloma Faith's album Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? Sometimes, an acoustic guitar guides the song along. Other times, synthesizers and drum loops take over.
Goulding is able to take the best parts of all of her contemporaries' styles and make them her own, coating everything in the breathy flutter of her voice. Fans will probably be drawn more to Bright Lights, a reissued version of this album with seven new tracks, but
Lights is strong enough to stand on its own without the bonus material. ~ Matthew Chisling