Halcyon

Halcyon is the second studio album by English recording artist Ellie Goulding, released on 5 October 2012 by Polydor Records. Recorded between 2011 and 2012, the album sees Goulding working with several producers, including Jim Eliot, Starsmith, Billboard, Justin Parker, MONSTA, Madeon and Mike Spencer, as well as collaborations with artists such as Tinie Tempah and Calvin Harris.

Halcyon received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented Goulding’s more aggressive showcase of her voice, with some critics calling it “luxuriously epic” and commending Goulding as “poised at the edge of artistic and career possibilities”. However, less favourable reviews felt that “the main flaw of Halcyon is that it occasionally feels a bit too much” and that the album concedes to “factory-standard chart dance”.

The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart, selling 33,425 copies in its first week. It also debuted at number nine on the United States’ Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 34,000 copies, while reaching the top five in New Zealand, the top ten in Canada and Ireland, and the top twenty in Australia. “Anything Could Happen” was released as the lead single from Halcyon on 17 August 2012, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart.