Ellie Goulding - 'Under The Sheets'
This was supposed to be a review of La Roux. I was supposed to be having a bit of a think about her success in 2009, maybe mentioning their vintage '80s synthpop credentials, Elly's quiff, and perhaps another little dig about the shrillness of her voice at times. So, in an act of TOTAL REBELLION, I've decided not to bother.
We all know what La Roux sounds like by now, right? Well they still sounds like it on their new single 'Quicksand', and that is because 'Quicksand' was also their first single, a year ago.
(. Call that a pineapple, Calvin Harris? THIS is a pineapple!)
SO, here's what we're going to talk about instead. Ellie Goulding's immaculate frostypop masterpiece.
(. In the House of Many Ellies, the housework magically does itself.)
It's not thrillingly retro, it's not home-made or the product of a tiny scene of London hipsters. Ellie does not have brilliantly-sculpted hair, or a bacofoil kimono. What she does have is a ghosty warble of a voice which sounds passionate and scared and bolshy and elvish all at the same time.
And it is put to great use here. From the first "like all the boys, boys, boys, boys" to the final go around on the pleading chorus, Ellie's voice dominates. There is barely a second of music which does not feature her vocal in some way, either as a muffled pixie choir, a lead instrument, or a soft, tumbledown wail in the background.
There are points where she sounds like a speeded-up and blended Florence album, there are bits where her throatal vibrato threatens to jellificate the entire song, and there's no doubt that prolonged exposure could rot your teeth, even though she clearly knows the Tooth Fairy on a first name basis...but this is a bewitching listen.
Download: Out now
CD Released: November 16th
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
PS: The Siobhan Donaghy revival starts here, people!
PPS: See Ellie performing at Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Maida Vale, right here!
Comment number 1.
At 16th Nov 2009, DanRhyn wrote:She played this brilliantly on Jools Holland a few weeks back and I've been listening to it non-stop since, fantastic song.
There will be the obvious comparions to La Roux / Florence / Little Boots because of the style of music, but I think she's as good as any of them, if not better, and deserves to be huge.
Also worth checking out are probable future single 'Starry-eyed', which has 'anthem' written all over it, and her vocals on the Starsmith cover/remix of Passion Pit's 'Sleepyhead'.
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Comment number 2.
At 24th Dec 2009, spirit wrote:Dan Rhyn you are getting immense credit for this !!!!
Srarry Eyed will be Ellie's first major single release after the Critic's Choice Award .
Polydor have announced it's release for February 22nd 2010 .
With the brilliant Orla Lee as one of her marketing managers (she is excellent ! ) , watch Ellie Goulding soar in 2010 .
Good luck Ellie !
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Comment number 3.
At 24th Dec 2009, harrythedog10 wrote:Also Ellie's song Wish I Stayed is free single of the week on Itunes (as of 24th december).
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Comment number 4.
At 24th Dec 2009, flatknees wrote:didnt realize this had already been reviewed.. great track.. 2010 is hers
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Comment number 5.
At 26th Dec 2009, spirit wrote:Under the sheets was a low key release aimed to galvanise interest.
Job done .
The proper job , begins with the release of Starry Eyed .
The 22 year old Welsh singers debut album will feature both Mark Ronson and my good friend Frankmusik.
It's sounding good !
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Comment number 6.
At 20th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Just heard and seen the video for Starry-eyed, great song pity the video isn't up to scratch. Nevertheless this looks likely to be a hit, top 20 me thinks.
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Comment number 7.
At 20th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Happy you're moving into Spirit's territory. Top 10 maching gunning everything half decent :p
I happen to really like 'Starry-eyed' though. Its a big improvement on this!
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Comment number 8.
At 20th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:machine*
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Comment number 9.
At 29th Aug 2010, SamuraisShadow wrote:Just came back to this after all these months.
Wow. Just, wow.
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Comment number 10.
At 31st Aug 2010, SamuraisShadow wrote:Every single one of her singles should have been number one for an infinite amount of time, each replacing the other one, right up until 'The writer'
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Comment number 11.
At 31st Aug 2010, spirit wrote:Bendtner , you are really living the Ellie Goulding dream , aren't you ?
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Comment number 12.
At 28th Sep 2010, SamuraisShadow wrote:maybe...
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