Halcyon

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Shedding the acoustic singer-songwriter trappings of her debut, Goulding's sophomore effort leans aggressively into grand, theatrical electropop production. Born from the aftermath of a difficult breakup, the vocal performances are notably soaring and emotionally bruised over dense, occasionally dubstep-influenced beats. The project proved commercially formidable, permanently positioning the artist as a heavyweight in the dark, alternative-leaning pop sphere.