Laufey: “A Matter of Time” Album Review

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By Magda Kanecka I September 2025

cover art for "A Matter of Time" by Laufey

Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey has released her long-awaited sophomore album after her previous record, “Bewitched”, was released in 2023 and followed up with its deluxe version in 2024.

Opening with the track “Clockwork”, the bells ringing at the start of the track are a luminous introduction to the album for any listener, new or old. In the lyrics, Laufey describes her best friend falling in love with her as she realises she feels the same back. The bells from the start of the song are conveniently referenced in the later track “Cuckoo Ballet Interlude” – adding a touching reference for those listening to the album from front to back. 

The single “Lover Girl” is, in my eyes, one of the catchiest songs on the album, and I absolutely adore Laufey’s comforting character voice in this song. From one lover girl to another, she describes the struggles and conflicts of being in love and trying to persevere through them, all of which are disguised under a very catchy chorus. What’s there not to love?

Laufey’s music, to me, screams comfort, calm, and peace – and the track “Snow White” represents this exceptionally well in its sound. In the lyrics, however, this song hits very close to home for me as someone with an overly perfectionist mindset that I often struggle to overcome in my personal life. The singer describes comparing herself to other people, both in terms of looks and personality, which makes the song so relatable and immediately had me coming back to it. This track is definitely one for the sad playlists, but don’t be fooled – Laufey’s vocals still shine on “Snow White”. Primarily for its relatable lyrics, it is also my favourite track from the album. 

“Castle in Hollywood” picks up slightly with enchanting acoustic guitars in the background. In all honesty, I still wish this song was longer, and upon first listening to the album, this track stood out to me the most. I like slower verses and a slightly more melodic and catchier chorus. I found myself singing the line “We’ll never go back to our Castle in Hollywood” from the first listen, and I think the keys in the background of the bridge add deeper emotion to the song.

The instrumental behind the track “Forget-Me-Not” maintains the ballet motif of the interlude as part of the instrumental, a tune reminiscent of Swan Lake. Originating from Iceland, Laufey sings some of the chorus lines in her native language of Icelandic as she reminisces on her homeland and hopes that the country doesn’t forget about her. A truly melancholic track, I adore the route in which Laufey took this song, and I believe it is one of the strongest on “A Matter of Time”.

In her classic slower tracks, “Carousel” and “Too Little, Too Late”, Laufey showcases emotional vulnerability through a melancholic and emotional sound. This is a staple in her work, and it continues to work so well for her – the singer-songwriter never fails to tell stories of her deepest feelings, and I believe her voice is made for slower songs like these – for it sounds so gentle and genuine every time I come back to her music.

In the more fast-paced tracks, such as the single “Tough Luck”, “Mr. Eclectic”, or the acoustic track “Clean Air”, Laufey executed equally as vulnerable and emotional lyrics of self-discovery, freeing herself from bad situations or seeing through people who claim to be the closest to her, disguised under more rapid melodies. While these appear more fun at face value, do not be fooled – Laufey often still manages to describe vulnerable and unpleasant situations even in her more ‘fun’ melodies.

Combining the two genes are the tracks “Silver Lining” and “A Cautionary Tale”, or the rather eerie closing track “Sabotage”, with often more rapid and catchier choruses and slower verses. In the track “Sabotage” especially, the bridge picks up so quickly that the listener is almost not expecting it – yet despite this, it works very well as a closing track.

This time around, Laufey delivered us both her classic sound, as well as having allowed herself to branch out and briefly explore new sounds. Laufey, in “A Matter of Time”, touches on topics such as self-doubt, love, conflict, wanting to please those around you and finding yourself in the world while being away from home – and I think in her realness, she does not fall short of being relatable to many. With amazing, emotional and relatable lyrics throughout, all of which are well-executed melodically, as well as showcasing a huge vocal development from 2023’s “Bewitched”, I have nothing bad to say about this album.