Ellie Goulding: Lights (From The Northern Echo)

Ellie Goulding: Lights

11:05am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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THERE’S a lot of buzz surrounding Ellie Goulding at the moment, thanks to victory in both the BBC’s Sound of 2010 award and the Brit Awards 2010 Critics’ Choice. Her debut album largely delivers although buyers are less sure with it slumping back to No 16 in the charts after bursting in at No 1. It’s a bright and shimmery collection of synth pop, all tied together with lush production and her soft folksy voice. It’s a bit thin on actual tunes, and promising verses often give way to rather bland choruses. But Wish I Stayed and The Writer are stand-out tracks, boasting heart-swelling melodies.

■ Ellie Goulding tour dates: April 7, The Other Rooms, Newcastle; April 11, Fibbers, Barfly, York; Evolution Weekender, Bank Holiday Sunday, Spillers Wharf, Tyneside.

Diana Pilkington