Singer-songwriter Laufey released “A Matter of Time” on Aug. 22, her third studio album she describes to be an “honest portrait of herself.”
Starting the album off strong is “Clockwork” and “Lover Girl,” two bossa-nova heavy tracks capturing infatuation with a new lover. I enjoyed these tracks because they are upbeat and gleeful. The ticking sound in “Clockwork” perfectly opens the album with a magical vibe and “Lover Girl” is a catchy and groovy song that never fails to make me sing or hum.
“Snow White” is a more slow and vulnerable track, where Laufey dwells on her struggles with comparison and her struggle with self-perception against societal standards. This track touched my heart with its profound lyrics and soothing melody. I think her lyrics perfectly capture feelings of insecurity and self-doubt that many may go through.
“Castle in Hollywood” and “Carousel” are both unique tracks. “Castle in Hollywood” pays tribute to Laufey’s ex-bestfriend and has a good bridge, but the main melody felt lackluster and did not really stand out to me. “Carousel” expresses the self-doubt she experiences when falling in love, and I especially like the carousel metaphor and circus theme she uses to describe her unpredictable life she feels her significant other has entered. In addition, the instrumental has minor elements of music played at an actual carousel, which I found pleasant.
Following is “Silver Lining,” a romantic and slow track about falling in love. It is one of my favorites for grand, slow sound that I find calming to listen to and makes me feel as if I am in a ballroom.
Next is, “Too Little, Too Late,” my favorite track that I also think is one of her most beautiful tracks of all time. She expresses sentiment over a past lover who is about to be married, voicing her past regrets and pains from when they were together. At the chorus, her voice is ever so powerful and the heartache is easily felt through the recording. The strong choruses lead to a beautiful and slow ending, featuring an orchestral version of “Bewitched,” a song from her second album of the same name. It takes place to imitate as if she is at his wedding “whisper[ing] vows [she’ll] never say to [him].” I replayed the transition to this very ending many times, and each time feels just as beautiful; it is so vivid you truly feel Laufey’s emotions at the wedding.
Following is “Cuckoo Ballet – Interlude,” a delicately composed instrumental featuring orchestral versions of tracks from both the album and “Bewitched.” Though an interlude, I find this to be one of my favorites, as it is a very mesmerizing listen and reminds me of the melodies you would hear in a Disney movie. After the interlude, the album transitions to “Forget-Me-Not,” a track about Laufey’s bittersweet and complicated relationship with her homeland, Iceland, even incorporating Icelandic in a few lines. This track has a unique slow, enchanting melody and instrumental that I was in awe of from first listen to now.
Shifting stories are “Tough Luck” and “A Cautionary Tale” that express different struggles with her past significant others. “Tough Luck” outwardly expresses her discontent with a toxic relationship. The track has an incredibly catchy rhythm, accompanied by her voice fueled by anger. The memorable chorus leads to the bridge, which is my favorite part of the track for its dramatic effect. “A Cautionary Tale” is about another toxic relationship where she put much effort into trying to “fix” a person who ended up draining her regardless. Similar to“Tough Luck,” I really enjoy the bridge of this track as well, though it’s more on the emotional side. She showcases raw vulnerability, stating how she “lost sight of all [her] dignity.”
Both “Mr. Eclectic” and “Clean Air” share an upbeat and bossa-nova orientated sound that is fun to listen to but I found their vibes similar and somewhat forgettable. For that reason, they did not appeal to me as much. Ending off the album with “Sabotage,” Laufey comes full circle as she alludes to the album name”, saying it’s “a matter of time” before her “sabotage.” She embraces all her vulnerability, stating to a lover that “[i]t’s a special of [hers] to cause disaster.” Chaotic metal instrumental and glitching sounds are used, which caught me off guard, but it allowed me as a listener to feel the true whirlwind of emotions that she feels.
“A Matter of Time” clocks in at an eight out of 10. The album has a distinct, magical sound to it and has more upbeat tracks compared to its predecessor “Bewitched.” Everything had me in awe, but the only downside I felt was that a few of the tracks were forgettable and indistinct. Other than that, I really love how with each track, Laufey tells a different side of her inner feelings and you can really tell how much emotion and vulnerability was poured into all the lyrics and musical structure. After a long wait, Laufey did not fail to disappoint, and I am excited to see what is to come next.
