As has been pointed out, sometimes at length, Ellie Goulding didn’t really need to tell the world that she’d gone pop.
What ‘Delirium’ does, though, is cast her previous work in a fresh light. Gone are any reminders of twee beginnings, dubstep dabblings or EDM influences, replaced by an avalanche of gloss and the sort of single-minded production that has been known to elicit maximum fire emojis.
With an all star cast writing alongside Goulding - Greg Kurstin, Ryan Tedder, Max Martin, Klas Åhlund and Peter Svensson, to name a handful - the bar has been raised accordingly. ‘Delirium’ delivers all that you might expect, but not perhaps all you might have hoped for.
This is an album of solid, effortlessly modern chart pop that never quite breaks loose. It’s not as funny as ‘1989’, that other great pop reinvention, as brashly enjoyable as Tove Lo’s ‘Queen of the Clouds’ or as indulgently satisfying as Sia’s recent splurge of new material. Quite often it’s good, but never great.
The first thing to acknowledge is that, texturally, ‘Delirium’ hits all the right spots. From its snatches of guitar, lifted wholesale from the cutting room floor of a Police record, to subtle pop-house elements and quietly propulsive synths, this is more seamless whole than patchwork quilt.
Goulding’s multi-tracked vocals create rich, atmospheric spaces, notably on Aftertaste, and are charged with carrying much of the melodic load. The issue arises when the songs are considered separately from the work involved in their presentation.
Fundamentally, a pop record is judged on how long the hooks stick around after the needle slips from the groove. In this regard, ‘Delirium’ is decidedly lacking. Something In The Way You Move has one of the most famous lines in history at its core but remains unremarkable, while a similar fate befalls Keep On Dancin’ and On My Mind.
Elsewhere, there is quality to render these melodic shortcomings plain. Around U shows Goulding’s ability to make a fleet-footed arrangement work thanks to her vocal dexterity, with Holding On For Life driving up the drama nicely. Despite the names on the credits, in these moments Goulding’s personal touches shine through.
‘Delirium’ has the ingredients of a great success. But it will be one based on a chance that has not been fully grasped.
Ellie Goulding Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue March 08 2016 - CARDIFF Motorpoint Arena
Thu March 10 2016 - LIVERPOOL Echo Arena
Sat March 12 2016 - SHEFFIELD Arena
Sun March 13 2016 - NOTTINGHAM Capital FM Arena
Tue March 15 2016 - LEEDS first direct Arena
Wed March 16 2016 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Metro Radio Arena
Fri March 18 2016 - GLASGOW SSE Hydro
Sat March 19 2016 - MANCHESTER Arena
Mon March 21 2016 - BIRMINGHAM Barclaycard Arena
Thu March 24 2016 - LONDON O2 Arena
Fri March 25 2016 - LONDON O2 Arena
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