Ellie Goulding first captured the hearts and minds of many a squealing girl with the loveliness of 2010’s Lights. Then crossed the pond to dominate America. Has Transatlantic success changed our humble, pint-sized princess? Sadly, her welcome is far from fit for a queen. The audience seem bored and far more interested in their own conversations than in the outings of material from upcoming album ‘Halcyon’– which overwhelm and dominate Goulding’s set tonight.
Stepping out in what appears to be some kind of leather bin bag, Goulding stalks the stage with her face concealed for the first few numbers, before drawing many a gasp from The Roundhouse to reveal her new cornrows hairstyle.
Opener ‘Don’t Say A Word’ is packed with solid gold synth lines and rushing beats – a sound which seems to dominate her new tracks. But nothing seems to inspire tonight’s stagnant audience until seven songs in with her sickly sweet cover of Elton John’s ‘Your Song’. It gets the same rapturously royal reception that it would have received at Will and Kate’s wedding, but then it’s back to the new stuff.
Current single ‘Anything Could Happen’ seems to capture London’s imagination a little more – showing clear signs of some of her other half Skrillex’s dancefloor magic rubbing off on her, without her going ‘dub’. Don’t worry – you’ll not hear a single ‘wob’ near Goulding just yet.
Of course, while the hits from Lights are few and far between, it’s the lush electro-folk of 'Guns and Horses', the jolting Euro-disco of 'Starry-Eyed' and the infectious bounce of 'Under The Sheet' which really hit pay-dirt. Which is a shame really. It was a brave move for Goulding to lean so heavily on her new record, and the Halcyon tracks seem charged with a much bolder sense of conviction. She didn’t even pick up a guitar – not once.
Tonight we saw a performance from a more mature Ellie Goulding – a more rounded artist with a richer tapestry of sounds and far more considered approach to her craft. But she’s still Ellie, she’s still ours – a very British talent. Let’s just hope that next time, she gets a far less British response.
Check out Ellie Goulding's full setlist below
