“A Hell of a Way to End Your Album”: Laufey’s “A Matter of Time”

Laufey’s newest release, “A Matter of Time,” makes it clear Laufey is not a jazz artist; though, she’s still not quite a pop singer either.

Addressing the elephant in the room, “Tough Luck” is absolutely meant to hit pop charts running. With a strumming guitar vaguely reminiscent of something off of early-era Taylor Swift (think “Speak Now” or “Red.”) It feels like it’s meant to grab a first-time listener’s attention and get them to explore the rest of the album, not to loop for weeks on end.

I do really appreciate that it has a real second-act build to it, something a lot of Laufey’s more jazz-y tunes lack, as it’s typically outside the specific styling.

“Castle in Hollywood” and “Silver Lining” do something similar, keeping a catchy guitar throughline and a lighthearted melody.

The pop charts are sprinkled with songs that genuinely feel like they could develop into jazz standards at the same time. “Clockwork” feels like it was produced for one of Seth MacFarlane’s cover albums– or would be more at home on something like Dua Lipa’s “Life from the Royal Albert Hall” live album.

The album’s bonus track, “Seems Like Old Times,” is another cover of a jazz standard and is a nice touch.

“Lover Girl” and “Mr. Eclectic” are Laufey’s near-signature bossa-nova charts, and personal favorites of mine. “Mr. Eclectic” in particular caught me off-guard on a first listen-through, following up the haunting ballad “A Cautionary Tale.”

“Sabotage” is “A Matter of Time’s” “Bewitched.” With a beautiful piano ballad, jarring string-trill interruptions, and a crescendo to a jaw-dropping orchestral climax that reminded me of the finale to “The End of Evangelion.”

It’s a moment of catharsis for the album, which has spent its entire listening time making subtle references and hints to the title. “Sabotage” completely takes the mask off and announces:

“It’s just a matter of time ‘til you see the dagger.”

Listeners have spent 45 minutes listening to coy clock references and advice, and memories of falling in love, building to the last song, and now it’s time for it to come crashing down.

A hell of a way to end your album.