Higher Than Heaven
Higher Than Heaven is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding. It was released on 7 April 2023 through Polydor Records, and serves as a follow-up to her fourth album Brightest Blue. Written largely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Goulding deliberately shifted the album's focus away from the deep introspection of its predecessor, describing it as her "least personal album" to date in favour of escapism and pure thrills. The album was preceded by four singles, "Easy Lover" featuring Big Sean, "Let It Die", "Like a Saviour", and "By the End of the Night".
Produced by Greg Kurstin, Jesse Shatkin, Koz, and Andrew Wells, among others, Higher Than Heaven is a dance-pop and pop record, characterised by a sound that is "jam packed with infectious hits" and drawing heavy influence from synth-pop, disco, and 1990s house music. Lyrically, the album focuses on universal themes of love and human connection rather than personal narratives.
Higher Than Heaven received generally favourable reviews from music critics. Commercially, the album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, marking Goulding's fourth chart-topping album in the country, and tying her with Adele for the most UK number one albums by a British female artist.
Background and development
According to Goulding, the album was written in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She noted that the palpable "darkness" of the preceding two years, which everyone had experienced differently, meant that "nobody wanted to sit and agonise over some relationship or some drama"; stating that this context was key to "how this album came together". In contrast to her previous 2020 album Brightest Blue, Higher Than Heaven is her "least personal album", because she was "trying to move away a bit from the very personal, introspective side of my last record", adding, "Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to sing about myself." Moreover, she clarified that the relief came from the fact that the album was "in the best possible way, this album wasn't taken from personal experiences", which was "refreshing to not be sitting in the studio going through all the things that happened to me and affected me. Because I feel things very deeply. I always have."Discussing the single "Easy Lover", Goulding explained that she wrote the song "about five years ago in Los Angeles" with producer Greg Kurstin and songwriter Julia Michaels. Regarding her writing style, Goulding remarked, "I can't help but write about situations we all go through", adding that she enjoys the idea that listeners can feel like they are "getting some kind of advice or some help" from her music. She also stated her preference for combining this relatability with her musical influences: "I grew up on house music and dance music and pop music, so if I can do both somehow, I often do." Separately, she noted that the song in her discography she will always relate to is her 2012 hit "Anything Could Happen", explaining, "It's just the feeling I get every time I perform it", and she added that the song "defines me the best".
Artistic direction
Goulding detailed her artistic focus by telling NME that her "new thing is acknowledging the things I'm good at, and I'm good at writing pop songs". She noted that despite having explored other genres, such as making a classical album and giving her vocal away to producers like Four Tet, "when it comes down to it, I really just love making big pop songs that you hear on the radio." Goulding considers the album as her "best album", because it allowed her to "explore other things" about herself, and she particularly enjoyed the sheer acts of writing and singing again. She found the process to be a "relief and really refreshing", as it meant she did not have to dwell on or revisit all the deeply felt personal events that had happened to her in the studio. Being an "old hand in the confessional pop genre", she was "adamant about taking a different route on her fifth album", as she notes, "To be honest, there was definitely an element of escapism, but I was also trying to move away..." She also admitted, "I just wasn't really in the mood to write ballads."Composition
Higher Than Heaven is a "fun pop", "luxurious and opulent dance-pop record", characterised by a sound that is "jam packed with infectious hits". The album is described as "top notch", with Spin noting the prominence of Goulding's vocals. According to AllMusic, the record is composed of "set of synth-washed, neon bangers" that eschews the deep introspection and personal slant of its predecessor, instead barrelling headlong into the club in search of healing through euphoria and release. Lyrically, the album breaks away from the deeply personal narratives found on Brightest Blue, opting instead to craft universal themes concerning love, lust, and the general human connection. Furthermore, it contains "stomping basslines, soaring synths and euphoric melodies" featuring contributions from some of pop music's "most elite figures" in production, including Greg Kurstin, Jesse Shatkin, Koz, and Andrew Wells.PopMatters identified Higher Than Heaven as a "solid set of tunes" that continues Goulding's success with "catchy pop tunes". The singer, who described the album as her "least personal" album to date, draws influence from "dance-pop stateswomen" such as Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Sophie Ellis Bextor, and Janet Jackson. Regarding the album's creative process, Goulding noted that "there really weren't any rules" and they "weren't trying to make a cohesive body of work", citing a mix of influences including "a lot of '80s influences", as well as the Weeknd, Dolly Parton, and ABBA, all "rolled in together". In Higher Than Heaven, the music weds "sweet lyricism with glossy, shiny dance-floor bangers", which creates an album that resembles a "playlist of Millennial dance music". The album also focuses on "pure thrills and escapism", similar to reactive COVID-19-era energisers from artists like Dua Lipa and Ava Max. In addition, the album boasts "flashes of nostalgia and the kind of neon-glow of 1980s revival synthpop that is currently en vogue". Influences of house-pop, R&B, and 1990s-era diva-pop are audible, all crafted "with expertise and an unfailing eye for catchy hooks and hummable lyrics".
Music and lyrics
The opener "Midnight Dreams" is highlighted for drawing upon influences from disco, '80s pop, and '90s house. It teams "aqueous disco synths" with a "propulsive, funky bassline". "Cure for Love" is considered an album highlight, with "swooping disco strings" over a "four-to-the-floor thump" and "stacked layers of Goulding's fluttering, powdered-sugar vocals". Featuring a "playful and catchy chorus" that sings of "self-preservation after a breakup", it is noted for having an "irresistible starburst chorus" that Goulding has built her career on. "By the End of the Night" is an "infectious dance-pop track" that strikes an ideal balance between Goulding's fun and melancholy sides, delivering a yearning yet uncertain early peak on the album. It is described as "chiming" and "80s-tastic", which serves as a "lush entry point" to the album. Conversely, the "near-monotone delivery" on the chorus is noted as not pairing well with ideas that sound plucked straight out of 2015. "Like a Saviour" is labelled a "bona fide anthem" and pop at its "campest and most entertaining". The bass on this song is described as "nasty and propulsive", something that could have been pulled out of the Weeknd's catalogue. "Love Goes On" is a hazy, benefiting from a "warm R&B smoothness courtesy" of Kurstin. It is noted for illustrating Goulding's "impressive chops". "Easy Lover", featuring Big Sean, is a "synthy, dance-pop" and "galactic dance anthem". Fittingly noted for "reaching new heights vocally", the title track is also noted for its shimmering sound and its influences from disco, 1980s pop, and 1990s house. Praised as an "evocative snapshot of a toxic relationship", "Let It Die" dips into "Dua Lipa's nu-disco territory". "Waiting for It" dives deeper into sweaty slow jam territory, suggesting a more sensual tone, noted for slightly dropping the tempo, offering a "spartan template" against "raw vocals". Goulding is noted for being equally compelling on the track when she sings matter-of-factly: "We can fuck the world away." "How Long" introduces an "unwelcome trap beat" that is noted as not making sense with the rest of the album. "Temptation" is highlighted for its "old-school disco thrills", likened to "the song Cameo forgot to write". Noted for its "Janet Jackson-esque orchestra hits", the song gives it an "oh-so-'80s" feel. "Intuition" features a "chugging Pet Shop Boys esque chorus". "Better Man" found towards the end of the album, features an "industrial thump" and is considered to be a strong expression of the confidence Goulding has developed over the past few years.Release and promotion
On 19 October 2022, Goulding announced the album's title and revealed its artwork cover, with an initial release date of 3 February 2023. Goulding promoted "Easy Lover" and discussed fan expectations for the project in an interview with Billboard News. However, on 9 January 2023, Goulding announced an initial delay to 24 March, stating "...we've had some exciting opportunities appear behind the scenes." At the same time, it was confirmed that a new single titled "Like a Saviour" would be "coming soon" as of 10 January 2023. On 28 February, she announced a second delay to 7 April; stating issues with sourcing eco-friendly material for the album's physical formats.On 31 March, Goulding released the songs "Midnight Dreams", "Cure for Love", "Love Goes On" and "Higher Than Heaven" on digital platforms in conjunction with her appearance on the Amazon Freevee concert film Monumental: Ellie Goulding at Kew Gardens. On 7 April, the day of the album's release, Goulding released a music video for "Better Man", directed by Tom Sandford.