She topped the BBC’s Sound of 2010 list and xolondon’s been (rightfully) banging on about her since October last year. It’s probably about time I said something about Ellie Goulding.

I’d listened to a few of the leaked Ellie tracks in that time, liked what I heard, but didn’t really return to them until last week. Driving in my car, I’d just uploaded a Goulding playlist to my iPod on a drive down the coast… And I have to say that, honestly, that was the first time I really listened to Ellie Goulding. I listened to every word and it wasn’t long before I was intoxicated by her voice and her stories.

I’m a sucker for strong, powerful and – more often than not – sad lyrics, I’m sure I’ve said it a hundred times. Ellie’s way of story-telling is incredibly emotional. The songs have this gorgeous folk foundation, but then have this slightly tarted-up electropop tinge as well.  You can bop to the beat and cry all at the same time.  And then there are the lyrics, in particular those from my favourite of the available tracks, “Guns + Horses.”

“And let’s join forces. We’ve got our guns and horses. I know you’ve been burned but every fire is a lesson learned.”

“But I wish I could feel all it for you. I wish I could be it all for you. If I could erase the pain, and maybe you’d feel the same. I’d do it all for you. I would.”

And then there’s the excellent “Under The Sheets”, which has its own telling and biting story told through the chorus.

“We’re under the sheets and you’re killing me. In this house made of paper, your words all over me.”

“Where did the people go? My hands are empty. You’re not the answer, I should know. Like all the boys before, like all the boys before.”

Magical.

Ellie’s debut album is released on March the 1st this year. I eagerly await its arrival because, lyrically speaking, we could have another Lungs on our hands.