It took over a year for her album to really pop over here in the US, but pop it did. Goulding’s previous album, Lights, is currently atop the charts just weeks before she’s getting ready to drop her newest effort, Halycon. It should be interesting to see what the angelic-voiced warbler does with this one since she’s been dating dubstep mega-star Skrillex, whom she has cited in interviews as an influence. She stated. Goulding stated, “I think we influence each other—not necessarily in music, but in the way that any couple would influence each other…I play him my new stuff, he plays me his new stuff, and it probably has influenced me subconsciously.” On Halcyon she mentioned, “It’s started to sound very dark and very weird. This album is going to be even more emotional […] I wanted to make it so there is hope. I want to make an effect whether it’s happy or sad.” Additionally, “This album for me is a journey from dark into light from confusion to understanding […] I didn’t set out to write a break-up record but I think it became one.” In an interview with MTV News, Goulding elaborated on the sound of the album, saying, “I’ve moved on quite a bit since the first album, because I’ve discovered so much; I’ve learned a lot more and I’ve grown up a lot more. I’ve gained more influences and different influences and people have influenced it; I suppose just circumstances. It’s a bit more tribal and anthemic; a bit more piano and vocal than anything. The last album was very electronic, but it was tied in with my voice; this one, to me, is way more of a pop record” (quotes aggregated via Wikipedia).

Track Spotlight: The joyfully anthemic “Anything Can Happen” opens with Grimes’ like wailing, but soon broadens into Gouldin’gs breathy sweet spot.  Plus, Skrillex makes a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo.