Much criticism was given over her last “Brightest Blue” in 2020, with quite a few critics saying the album lacked excitement. I cannot remember what I said, but in all fairness, it was recorded during the lockdown, so if the record was more downtempo, then it is easy to understand why. This time Ellie has decided to bring more uplifting dance-like music. The album is full of synthesisers and thumping basslines. The record doesn’t give you time to settle because it is more like going to a club, and the DJ playing song after song that makes you not want to leave the dance floor. ‘Love Goes on’ is the only mid-tempo track, but even that still has some energy.

The album begins with ‘Midnight Dreams’ to start the disco-themed adventure and is followed by ‘Cure for Love’, a song about breaking up in a relationship with an infectious chorus. The title track shows off the best of Ellie’s vocals so far in her career. She then goes into that 80s disco, which has been used by the Weeknd of late on ‘Like a Savior’ and ‘Let it Die’. You will see what I mean by hearing them and the dirty deep bass on both.

What is a shame, but probably understandable on the record, given its disco and uplifting instrumentals, is that Ellie focuses less on her brilliant songwriting. Her vocals also need more energy on ‘By the End of the Night’. The record also ends with the trap beat inspired ‘How Long’, which seems totally out of place with the rest of the instrumentation that comes before it. I wonder why that happened. Ellie may be teasing her next album sound.

Regardless of the lack of songwriting and the peculiar addition of ending with trap, the album mostly doesn’t lack energy and is uplifting and fun to listen to. You feel alive and get this sense of being on that dance floor in the club. Also, what a way to shut your critics up who lambasted her last album.

Song recommendations: ‘Midnight Dreams’, ‘Like a Savior’, ‘Higher than Heaven’

8/10