The minute hand strikes twelve, and the pendulum releases a ring that echoes. Ding dong … ding dong … Laufey Jónsdóttir begins her third studio album “A Matter of Time” with the chiming of a clock.
Jónsdóttir’s jazzy, old-timey music style captivated the hearts of millions in recent years. Her previous album, “Bewitched,” won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
“A Matter of Time” contains fourteen tracks. Four of them were released as singles: “Silver Lining” on April 3, “Tough Luck” on May 15, “Lover Girl” on June 25 and “Snow White” on Aug. 7. The four explicit tracks on the tracklist were startling for many Laufey fans, as Jónsdóttir did not have any tracks labeled as explicit before this album, with the exception of “Goddess.”. A few hours before the official release on Aug. 22, Jónsdóttir leaked the entire album in sheet music, encouraging fans to play their own covers.
The opening track, “Clockwork,” remains faithful to Jónsdóttir’s established style. The lyrics are sincere, detailing the internal anxieties of going on a date. After the clock’s chimes fade out, an upbeat clapping rhythm introduces the next song: “Lover Girl.” With a bossa nova style, “Lover Girl” has the catchiest tune of all the tracks. Jónsdóttir playfully sings to her sweetheart about the romantic struggles of long distance dating. With over 39 million streams already, “Lover Girl” is quickly rising as one of Jónsdóttir’s most popular songs.
“Snow White” abruptly ends the whimsy and joy of “Lover Girl” by lamenting about the never-ending chase for beauty that societal standards have created for women. Its deeply vulnerable lyrics paired with Jónsdóttir’s elegant voice creates a heart-wrenching despair that hits many listeners close to home.
Backed by the lively strumming of a guitar, “Castle in Hollywood,” describes the pain of a friendship breakup. “Carousel” waltzes in afterwards with a gently swaying whimsical harmony and elaborate circus metaphor about letting your lover see you in your truest, messiest form. Displaying Jónsdóttir’s strong vocals, “Silver Lining” captivates listeners with its alluring melody. As she sings of childish desires and losing control to love, Jónsdóttir’s voice is heavenly. Ironically, the lyrics read, “if you go to hell, I’ll go there with you too.” The seventh track, “Too Little Too Late,” is the only one on the album from a male point of view. The melody is beautiful but stagnant until the final build up; the outro simmers out canorously, accompanied by string instrumentation.
“Cuckoo Ballet (Interlude)” marks the halfway point of the album. Composed by Jónsdóttir and Grammy winning composer and songwriter Spencer Stewart, the piece features instrumental segments of “Lover Girl,” “Snow White,” songs from previous album “Bewitched” and more. Its romantic period style resembles the music of Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Turning away from the delicate harmonies of “Cuckoo Ballet (Interlude),” “Forget-Me-Not” pulls listeners into an enchanting and melancholic ode to Iceland, Jónsdóttir’s homeland. Jónsdóttir sings two lines of the chorus in Icelandic, bittersweetly professing her love and begging her country to remember her even as she leaves to chase her dreams. True to her devotion for Iceland, Jónsdóttir recorded the track with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.
Deviating from her usual style with a faster tempo, “Tough Luck” throws caustic insults at an ex lover. The bridge builds in intensity, with fervent lyrics and powerful vocals. “Cautionary Tale,” with its harmonious chords, also has quicker instrumentation and builds up throughout the piece, but remains musically stagnant compared to “Tough Luck.”
With a catchy beat and humorously witty lyrics, “Mr. Eclectic” berates the insufferableness of a pseudo-intellectual suitor. “Clean Air” comes in with a refreshing melody accompanied by Jónsdóttir’s mellifluous voice.
The album reaches a compelling end with “Sabotage.” After the first chorus, the track jumpscares listeners with a sudden cacophony of jagged and jarring sounds, portraying a sense of losing control and breaking down. Contrasting sharply with her signature calm and tranquil songs, “Sabotage” is an experimental step for Jónsdóttir’s music development.
Through rich vocals, heartfelt verses and lyrical melodies, Jónsdóttir crafted “A Matter of Time” with the delicacy of a clockmaker, placing each intricate gear with purpose and care. For all the world’s jazz lovers and romantics, her music is timeless.
Rating: 4.75/5
