After “Lights,” the title track from her 2011 album, experienced wild success in the form of radio stardom and countless remixes, Ellie Goulding’s new album “Halcyon” was less anticipated than one would expect. While Taylor Swift’s album countdown ticked toward the release, Goulding’s album was dropped with considerably less fanfare. Of course, that’s not to say it was any less well-received. “On Halcyon she marries thoughtful ruminations on young love to whooshing synth riffs and hard-edged machine beats; the album claims electronic dance music as the natural province of sensitive singer-songwriters,” writes Mikael Wood, of the LA Times. The lyrics of her songs come straight from the heart, no matter if it’s a slow and soulful (“Dead in the Water”) or upbeat (“Ritual”) song, listeners will find themselves absorbed in her four-minute stories. Admittedly, repetition does become a bit of an issue. Many songs are about love and/or abandonment, played up or down with the background tracks. However, the songs are consistently thoughtful and interesting, negating the overuse of the common themes. With a good mix of club beats and relaxed instrumentals, Halcyon has a great variety for any fans of pop, electronic, or alternative music. The first single released, “Anything Could Happen”, has already enjoyed great success, and more can be expected as the new songs are incorporated into the radio rotation.