Here is the new video from Ellie Goulding! It's called Guns and Horses and it is actually one of my favorite tracks on her album. Ellie says: "I wrote Guns And Horses about a romance that began online... I wanted the guy to feel more than he did for me but through no fault of his own he couldn't. It's a song about frustration essentially." The surreal and mysterious video is now ready for you to feast your eyes on - directed by Petro, and filmed at Los Angeles' Griffith Park, it features Ellie singing in a misty woodland landscape with some ethereal backing dancers. Guns and Horses is out on May 7th.
Want to know why Ellie Goulding says that Erik Hassle has the voice of an angel? Then you just have to hear his heartbreaking rendition of Sam Cooke's classic Nothing Can Change This Love, have all your senses literally melt and then agree with the voice of reason.
Erik Hassle - Nothing Can Change This Love (mp3 via Neon Gold)
And while we're at it, here's both Erik and Ellie together, in a cute cover of Robyn's Be Mine:
Erik Hassle & Ellie Goulding - Be Mine (mp3 via Arjanwrites)
Ellie Goulding has just released her long-awaited debut album, called Lights. After being hyped to death as the next best thing in pop, even receiving a critics choice award at the Brits this year (oh the pressure!), music lovers have been questioning if she can really deliver a solid record after all. After listening to the album my answer is: yes, she can. Lights is an amazing collection of songs, co-produced with partner in crime Finlay Dow-Smith (aka Starsmith) that seem to accentuate the dreamy electronica that we had a glimpse of on singles such as Starry Eyed and Under The Sheets. I loved all his clever twists and skips in the production here (intertwined with a folk flavor), creating the perfect scenario for Ellie Goulding's unique (and precious) voice. And I really mean this, she has a very rich and unique vocal sound. It reminds me a bit of early Björk (the coy, shy way of bursting the bittersweet lyrics, a mannerism that you can either love or hate). As for the album, I do miss a few acoustic numbers thrown in, she sounds beautiful in a more intimate musical set (video below) and you are left feeling that she should have recorded more in that direction as well. In that sense, I can also establish a parallel between Lights and Björk's Debut album: both records seem to focus more on dance-pop songs, while you clearly are left feeling that the artists have their heads set on other musical adventures. If Björk has found her true musical self on her third album, chances are Ellie might do the same on future recordings. Because what lacks on Lights is intimacy, something we know she can transmit brilliantly (check out her Bon Iver cover of Wolves and you'll never be the same again). That's the only thing I missed when listening to this (still impressive) collection of songs. Lights is the kind of album that is sure to put Ellie Goulding on the pop stratosphere without showcasing everything she has to offer. As for this writer, I can honestly say I'm in love. There's a bright future ahead of her and we are truly fortunate to have such an unique singer with us. Welcome, Ellie! (8/10)
Fresh from topping the BBC Sound Of 2010 list, the wonderful Ellie Goulding has just put out a brand new video for her Starsmith-produced Starry Eyed, a song which has been around for a few months, but only now is getting a (much deserved) proper release. Frankly, I can't see anything in it that is not amazing in at least one sort or the other, so do yourself a favor and go watch it on repeat. And is it just me or isn't she getting cuter every day?
Forget about the Little Boots or La Roux of this world. Ellie Goulding is the real deal. With an album on the rocks produced by Frankmusik and your future-favourite-producer Starsmith, we'll all hear a lot more about Ellie in the not-so-far future, just make your bets. In the meantime, have a look and listen to the pop-brilliance of the video above. Killer melody, unique voice, awesome lyrics, over-the-top production, sweet looks... isn't she just the bomb?
One of my female tips for 2009, Ellie Goulding has a touching vulnerable voice and great song-writing skills. In this song, her lovely introspective charms are joined together with the electro-pop midas-touch of Frankmusik, one never shy to add a bit of vocoder here and there. The result, marrying folk with electro, is nothing short of brilliant and one of the best songs I've heard in a while.
A few more months and these guys will be everyone's favourite new band. Stick-in-your-head melodies, an absurd amount of involving keyboards and infectious synth-lines, and so much loud energy and intense exuberance that, when getting into the chorus, they have no choice but to slow it down and make a catchy-as-fuck love declaration.
The original is just an average rock track, but Bo Flex (a.k.a. Ayad Al-Adhamy, a Passion Pit member that also doubles as producer of Giantess) takes it into a whole new level, immersing the melody into layers of icy synths and unashamedly dated keyboards and handclaps, creating a celebratory anthem to shout out loud.
