Higher Than Heaven

This article is about the Ellie Goulding album. For the song by the German power metal band Powerwolf, see Blessed & Possessed. For the song by American rock band Heaven Below, see Falling from Zero.

Higher Than Heaven
Standard edition artwork
Studio album by Ellie Goulding
Released	7 April 2023 (2023-04-07)
Genre	Dance-pop [1] synth-pop [2] nu-disco [2]
Length	36:42
Label	Polydor
Producer	The 23rd Greg Kurstin Koz Lostboy Happy Perez Jesse Shatkin watt Andrew Wells
Ellie Goulding chronology
Brightest Blue (2020) Higher Than Heaven (2023)
Singles from Higher Than Heaven
"Easy Lover" Released: 15 July 2022 "Let It Die" Released: 19 October 2022 "Like a Saviour" Released: 1 February 2023 "By The End of the Night" Released: 22 March 2023

Higher Than Heaven is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding, released on 7 April 2023 ^[3] by Polydor Records. ^[4] It is her first album in three years, since Brightest Blue (2020).

The album was preceded by the singles "Easy Lover", "Let It Die", "Like a Saviour" and "By The End of the Night". Higher Than Heaven was a commercial success, it debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, shifting 11,818 album-equivalent units in its first week. ^[5] It became Goulding's fourth chart-topping album in the country, putting her level with Adele as the two British female artists with the most number one albums.

Higher Than Heaven received positive reviews from music critics and was named as one of the best albums of the year by Rolling Stone , and Billboard .

Background and development

The album was written in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Goulding: "There was definitely a darkness about [the past two years] that was palpable in the studio, with everyone having gone through it differently. I think for that reason, nobody wanted to sit and agonise over some relationship or some drama. So that's how this album came together. ^[6]

Goulding expressed that in contrast to her previous 2020 album Brightest Blue , the album is her "least personal album." She elaborated "...I think it’s the best album because I got to just explore other things about myself. I just really, really enjoy writing, really enjoy being a singer. [It] was such a relief and really 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." ^[7]

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. ^[8] However, on 9 January 2023, Goulding announced an initial delay to 24 March, stating "...we’ve had some exciting opportunities appear behind the scenes." ^{[9] [10]} On 28 February, she announced a second delay to 7 April; stating issues with sourcing eco-friendly material for the album's physical formats. ^{[11] [12]}

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 series Monumental; making the first 8 tracks of the album available. ^{[13] [14] [15] [16]}

On 7 April, the day of the album's release, Goulding released a music video for "Better Man", directed by Tom Sandford. ^{[17] [18]}

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	6.7/10 [19]
Metacritic	77/100 [20]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[21]
The Times	[1]
The Daily Telegraph	[2]
NME	[22]
Evening Standard	[23]
Clash Magazine	7/10 [24]

Higher Than Heaven received generally favourable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from professional critics, the album received a weighted average score of 77, based on seven reviews - Goulding's highest-rated album of her career. ^[20] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the album a 6.7 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus. ^[19]

Higher Than Heaven was named as one of the best albums of the year by Rolling Stone , ^[25] and Billboard . ^[26]

Tour

Higher Than Heaven

Tour by Ellie Goulding
Location	Europe
Associated album	Higher Than Heaven
Start date	16 October 2023 (2023-10-16)
End date	7 November 2023 (2023-11-07)
Legs	1
No. of shows	12
Ellie Goulding concert chronology
Brightest Blue Tour (2021) Higher Than Heaven Tour (2023)

In support of the album, Goulding announced European dates for the Higher Than Heaven Tour: ^[27] She also announced shows in the United States, accompanied by an orchestra. ^[28]

Setlist

This setlist is taken from the show at 3Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland on October 16, 2023. ^[29] It does not represent all shows on this tour.

1. "Better Man"
2. "Let It Die"
3. "Outside"
4. "Love Goes On"
5. "Power"
6. "By The End of the Night"
7. "How Deep Is Too Deep"
8. "Frozen" (Madonna cover)
9. "Halcyon"
10. "Starry Eyed"
11. "Midnight Dreams"
12. "Anything Could Happen"
13. "Brightest Blue"
14. "Still Falling For You"
15. "Lights"
16. "Miracle"
17. "Joy"
18. "Somebody"
19. "Higher Than Heaven"
20. "Animal"
21. "I Need Your Love"

Encore

1. "Love Me Like You Do"
2. "Burn"

Notes

• Starting with the show in Glasgow, Goulding performed a version of "My Blood".
• Starting with the show in Manchester, Goulding performed "Your Song" as part of the encore.
• Starting with the show in Manchester, "By The End of the Night", "Somebody", "Love Goes On" and "Brightest Blue" were removed from the setlist.
• During the shows in Manchester, Birmingham and London, "How Deep Is Too Deep" was not performed.
• During the show in Manchester, "Midnight Dreams" was not performed.
• Starting with the show in Paris, "Let It Die" was removed from the setlist.
• During the shows in Paris, Luxembourg City, Utrecht, Brussels and Milan, "Animal" was not performed.
• During the show in Paris, "Halcyon" was not performed.
• During the show in Milan, Goulding performed a version of "Figure 8" as part of the encore.

Dates

Date	City	Country	Venue	Support Act
16 October 2023	Dublin	Ireland	3Olympia Theatre	Olivia Lunny
18 October 2023	Glasgow	Scotland	Barrowland Ballroom
19 October 2023	Newcastle	England	O2 City Hall Newcastle
20 October 2023	Manchester		Manchester Academy
23 October 2023	Birmingham		O2 Institute Birmingham
24 October 2023	London		The Roundhouse
27 October 2023	Paris	France	Bataclan
28 October 2023	Luxembourg City	Luxembourg	Den Atelier
30 October 2023	Utrecht	Netherlands	TivoliVredenburg
31 October 2023	Brussels	Belgium	Cirque Royale
2 November 2023	Milan	Italy	Fabrique
6 November 2023	Cologne	Germany	E-Werk
7 November 2023	Berlin		Huxleys Neue Welt

Cancelled Shows

Date	City	Country	Venue	Reason for cancellation
25 October 2023	Oxford	England	O2 Academy Oxford	Illness

Commercial performance

In the United Kingdom, Higher Than Heaven debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, shifting 11,818 album-equivalent units in its first week, the lowest of any of her albums. ^[5] It became Goulding's fourth chart-topping album in the country, putting her level with Adele as the two British female artists with the most number one albums. ^[30] In the same week, her single "Miracle", a collaboration with Calvin Harris, was number one on the UK Singles Chart, earning Goulding her first "chart double"; although, "Miracle" does not feature on Higher Than Heaven. ^{[5] [30] [31]}

The album also debuted at number one on the Scottish Albums Chart. ^[32]

Track listing

Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Midnight Dreams"	Ellie Goulding Trey Campbell Glen Garth Phil Garth Stephen Kozmeniuk	Koz The 23rd	3:12
2.	"Cure for Love"	Goulding Tom Mann Anthony Rossomando Andrew Wells	Wells Koz [p]	2:57
3.	"By The End of the Night"	Goulding Campbell Kozmeniuk	Koz	3:08
4.	"Like a Saviour"	Goulding Mann Rossomando Wells	Wells Koz [p]	3:40
5.	"Love Goes On"	Goulding Greg Kurstin	Kurstin	3:52
6.	"Easy Lover" (featuring Big Sean)	Goulding Sean Anderson Kurstin Julia Michaels	Kurstin	3:35
7.	"Higher Than Heaven"	Goulding Campbell G. Garth P. Garth Kozmeniuk	Koz The 23rd	3:29
8.	"Let It Die"	Goulding Mann Andrea Rocha Peter Rycroft	Lostboy	2:46
9.	"Waiting for It"	Goulding Maureen McDonald Jesse Shatkin	Shatkin	3:19
10.	"Just for You"	Goulding Kurstin Michaels	Kurstin	3:06
11.	"How Long"	Ali Tamposi Brian Lee Nathan Perez Andrew Watt	Watt Happy Perez	3:38
Total length:				36:42

Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
12.	"Temptation"	Goulding Mann Rossomando Wells	Wells	3:03
13.	"Intuition"	Goulding Kurstin	Kurstin	3:12
14.	"Tastes Like You"	Goulding Mann Rossomando Wells	Wells	3:12
15.	"Better Man"	Goulding Jussifer Tayla Parx Jack Patterson	Parisi Sam Skirrow [a]	2:52
16.	"All by Myself" (with Alok and Sigala)	Goulding Martin Gore Mann OHYES Alok Achkar Peres Petrillo Rossomando Wells	Alok OHYES Sigala Wells	2:52
Total length:				51:53

Notes

• ^{^[p]} signifies a primary and vocal producer
• ^{^[a]} signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Musicians

• Ellie Goulding – vocals
• Glen Garth – background vocals (tracks 1, 7); bass guitar, drums, synthesizer (7)
• Phil Garth – background vocals (1, 3); bass guitar, drums, synthesizer (1)
• Stephen Kozmeniuk – bass guitar, drums, synthesizer (1–4, 7); guitar (1–4)
• Maurie Kaufmann – drums (1, 7)
• Andrew Wells – bass guitar, drums, guitar, synthesizer (2, 4, 12, 14); piano (2, 4), flute (4), percussion (12, 14), programming (14), keyboards (16)
• Claude Vause – programming (2)
• Todd Clark – background vocals (3)
• Trey Campbell – background vocals (3)
• Greg Kurstin – bass guitar, drums, keyboards, percussion, synthesizer (5, 6, 10, 13); electric guitar (6, 10)
• Lostboy – bass guitar, drum programming, keyboards, programming (8)
• Big Sean – vocals (6)
• Jesse Shatkin – bass guitar, drums, keyboards, percussion, programming, synthesizer (9)
• Andrew Watt – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, programming (11)
• Happy Perez – keyboards, programming (11)
• Freddy Sheed – drum programming (12)
• Charley Bagnall – synthesizer (12)
• Marco Parisi – bass guitar, keyboards, programming, sound effects (15)
• Giampaolo Parisi – drums, percussion, programming, sound effects, synthesizer (15)
• Ohyes – bass guitar, drums, keyboards, programming (16)
• João Cruz – guitar (16)
• Bruce Fielder – keyboards, programming (16)

Technical

• Randy Merrill – mastering (1–15)
• One Mix Mastering – mastering, mixing (16)
• Matty Green – mixing (1, 7, 9, 14)
• Serban Ghenea – mixing (2–6, 10–13)
• Lostboy – mixing (8)
• Clem Cherry – engineering (1, 3, 7)
• Jesper Kragh Nielsen – engineering (1, 3, 7)
• Kristian Donaldson – engineering (1, 3, 7)
• Andrew Wells – engineering (2, 4, 12)
• Alex Pasco – engineering (5, 6, 10, 13)
• Greg Kurstin – engineering (5, 6, 10, 13)
• Julian Burg – engineering (5, 6, 10, 13)
• Matt Tuggle – engineering (5, 6, 10, 13)
• Tom Kahre – engineering (6)
• Jesse Shatkin – engineering (9)
• Samuel Dent – engineering (9)
• Andrew Watt – engineering (11)
• Happy Perez – engineering (11)
• Joe Kearns – vocal engineering (6)
• Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance (2–6, 10–13)
• Claude Vause – engineering assistance (2, 4, 12)
• Jon Yeston – engineering assistance (2, 4, 12)
• Dominic Ganderton – engineering assistance (2, 4)
• Luke Gibbs – engineering assistance (12, 14)

Charts

Chart performance for Higher Than Heaven

Chart (2023)	Peak position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA) [33]	15
Australian Physical Albums (ARIA) [33]	38
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [34]	52
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [35]	5
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [36]	37
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [37]	37
French Albums (SNEP) [38]	86
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [39]	20
Irish Albums (IRMA) [40]	97
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [41]	47
Scottish Albums (OCC) [32]	1
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [42]	99
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [43]	28
UK Albums (OCC) [44]	1
US Billboard 200 [45]	125

Release history

Release history and formats for Higher Than Heaven

Region	Date	Format(s)	Edition(s)	Label	Ref.
Various	7 April 2023	Cassette CD digital download streaming vinyl	Standard	Polydor	[46]
		CD digital download streaming	Deluxe		[47]

References

1. Potton, Ed (7 April 2023). "Ellie Goulding: Higher Than Heaven review — sex, drugs and no personal revelations". The Times . Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
2. McCormick, Neil (7 April 2023). "Ellie Goulding brings us dance-floor delight, HMLTD is as eccentric as ever – the week's best albums". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023. 11 tracks of gleaming nu-disco, upgraded '80s synth pop and sleek electronic dance-music concocted with teams of established hitmakers
3. "Ellie Goulding pushes back release date of new album Higher Than Heaven due to sourcing issues". Official Charts Company. 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
4. Clarke, Naomi (19 October 2022). "Ellie Goulding reveals release date for her fifth studio album". Evening Standard . Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
5. Jones, Alan (14 April 2023). "Charts analysis: Ellie Goulding secures first chart double with fourth No.1 album". Music Week . Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
6. Skinner, Tom (20 October 2022). "Ellie Goulding announces fifth album 'Higher Than Heaven'". NME . Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
7. Mier, Tomás (23 March 2023). "Ellie Goulding Spills Secrets Behind Her New Album, Motherhood, and Her Best Unreleased Songs". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
8. "ELLIE GOULDING ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM "HIGHER THAN HEAVEN" OUT 3rd FEBRUARY 2023". Universal Music Canada. 19 October 2022. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
9. Aubrey, Elizabeth (10 January 2023). "Ellie Goulding delays release of new album 'Higher Than Heaven'". NME . Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
10. Bowenbank, Starr (10 January 2023). "Ellie Goulding Delays 'Higher Than Heaven' Album Release". Billboard. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
11. Goulding, Ellie [@elliegoulding] (28 February 2023). "... so we've worked really hard to stick to that promise. As a result and due to delays in sourcing these products, we have to push back the release ever so slightly to April 7 just so we can get these beautiful products to you as soon as possible" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 February 2023– via Twitter.
12. "Ellie Goulding's new album Higher Than Heaven will arrive two weeks late". Official Charts Company. 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
13. "Midnight Dreams". Spotify. 31 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
14. "Cure For Love". Spotify. 31 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
15. "Love Goes On". Spotify. 31 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
16. "Higher Than Heaven". Spotify. 31 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
17. "Ellie Goulding - Better Man". YouTube. 7 April 2023. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
18. "Better Man by Ellie Goulding on TIDAL". Tidal. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
19. "Higher Than Heaven by Ellie Goulding reviews". United Kingdom: AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
20. "Higher than Heaven by Ellie Goulding". Metacritic . United States: CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
21. Yeung, Neil Z. (7 April 2023). "Higher Than Heaven - Ellie Goulding | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
22. Livine, Nick (7 April 2023). "Ellie Goulding – 'Higher Than Heaven' review: playful antidote to personal-driven pop". NME . Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
23. "Ellie Goulding: Higher Than Heaven album review - only good vibes here". Evening Standard . 7 April 2023. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
24. "Clash:Ellie Goulding: Higher Than Heaven album review". Clash Magazine . 7 April 2023. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
25. "The Best Albums of 2023 So Far". Rolling Stone . 13 June 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
26. "The 50 Best Albums Of 2023 So Far: Staff Picks". Billboard . 20 June 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
27. Krol, Charlotte (30 March 2023). "Ellie Goulding announces 2023 UK and Ireland 'Higher Than Heaven' tour". NME . Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
28. "Ellie Goulding to play US shows with orchestra this November". 97.9 WRMF. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
29. "Ellie Goulding Setlist at 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin". setlist.fm. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
30. Griffiths, George (14 April 2023). "Ellie Goulding's Higher Than Heaven and Calvin Harris collab Miracle are Number 1: Official Chart Double". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
31. Paine, Andre (14 April 2023). "Polydor scores third consecutive No.1 album as Ellie Goulding does the chart double". Music Week . Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
32. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
33. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 17 April 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1728. Australian Recording Industry Association. 17 April 2023. pp. 7, 10.
34. "Austriancharts.at – Ellie Goulding – Higher Than Heaven" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
35. "Ultratop.be – Ellie Goulding – Higher Than Heaven" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
36. "Ultratop.be – Ellie Goulding – Higher Than Heaven" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
37. "Dutchcharts.nl – Ellie Goulding – Higher Than Heaven" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
38. "Top Albums (Week 15, 2023)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
39. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ellie Goulding – Higher Than Heaven" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
40. "Irish Albums Chart: 14 April 2023". Irish Recorded Music Association . Retrieved 15 April 2023.
41. "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży: Albumy" (Select week 07.04.2023–13.04.2023.) (in Polish). ZPAV. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
42. "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae . Retrieved 17 April 2023.
43. "Swisscharts.com – Ellie Goulding – Higher Than Heaven". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
44. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
45. "Ellie Goulding Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
46. Higher Than Heaven standard release formats:
    • "Higher Than Heaven Cassette #1". Ellie Goulding Store. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
    • "Higher Than Heaven CD". Ellie Goulding Store. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
    • "Higher Than Heaven Digital Album". Ellie Goulding Store. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
    • "Higher Than Heaven by Ellie Goulding". Apple Music (UK). Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
    • "Higher Than Heaven Black Vinyl". Ellie Goulding Store. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
47. Higher Than Heaven deluxe release formats:
    • "Higher Than Heaven (Deluxe) CD". Ellie Goulding Store. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
    • "Higher Than Heaven (Deluxe) by Ellie Goulding". Apple Music (UK). Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.