Lights Polydor**
In the desperate rush to throw plaudits at this week’s Next Big Thing, it seems that certain aspects are being overlooked. A case in point is Ellie Goulding, a 22-year-old English singer who was recently featured on BBC’s Sound Of 2010 list. As Goulding herself has cautiously noted, it’s all too much, too soon, too young. What you sense quite quickly with Goulding’s debut album is a sense of how good it could have been if everyone hadn’t been so eager to please and push. As it stands, take away all the praise and palaver, and what with a few decent songs (
Under the Sheets, Wish I Stayed, Your Biggest Mistake
) amid the bland and the banal (the remaining seven tracks), we’re left with an album that couldn’t be more anonymous if it came in a plain white envelope. Next Big Thing? No, just another hopeful over-hyped to within an inch of her career. See elliegoulding.co.uk
TONY CLAYTON-LEA
Download tracks: Under the Sheets, Wish I Stayed
