The release of Laufey’s deluxe album, ‘A Matter Of Time: The Final Hour,’ introduces four new tracks that enhance the emotional depth and effortless polish of the original record. Laufey seamlessly blends influences of jazz, classical, and pop to create music that is not confined to a single genre.
She instead draws on musical knowledge and masterful storytelling to craft songs that take the listener on a journey. The original record features a combination of slower, heartfelt songs like ‘Too Little Too Late’ and more upbeat tracks, such as the joyful jazz-influenced ‘Lover Girl.’ These additions help her create an even more cohesive experience.
‘Seems Like Old Times’ – which was previously a bonus addition from the standard edition release – is given a chance to shine here, with strong jazz sounds. This is a more upbeat song, creating a break within the album before the emotionally charged songs.
The first new track on the deluxe release is ‘Madwoman’, which brings a lighter tone, with a strong soulful sound woven throughout, presented more subtly than in ‘Seems Like Old Times.’ The song's impact is heightened by the music video, which has been promoted alongside the album release, including an iconic cast of Katseye member Megan Skiendiel, Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu, actress Lola Tung, and actor Hudson Williams.
‘How I Get’ showcases her ability to captivate with both emotional depth and tone. Her voice is laced with feeling, creating one of the real standouts on this deluxe edition. This highlights what she does best, creating music that feels deeply moving and almost cinematic. With its classical influence and vocal delivery, the song reflects a sense of control and restraint, which contrasts with a sense of vulnerability and lack of control that she feels around one person: “I'm blinded by you, that's just how I get”.
‘I Wait, I Wait, I Wait’ is a slower and piano-led song with a feeling of melancholy running throughout. This song allows her voice to create an emotional and simplistic track, proving how powerful that can be.
The final track on the record, ‘I’ll Forget About You (In Time)’ uses orchestral sounds to build suspense, gradually increasing the emotional intensity of both her vocals and the instrumentals. This slowly fades into piano, creating a reflective closing moment. It narrates the struggles of trying to move on, but being hurt at the time, and struggling to see past this pain. While ‘I Wait, I Wait, I Wait’ relies primarily on her vocals to convey the emotion, here, the instrumentation plays a larger role, heightening the struggles she is narrating.
The addition of these new tracks elevates the heartfelt emotion and fusion of genres established on the original release, demonstrating Laufey’s ability to create an album that feels heartfelt, cohesive, and deeply immersive
Maria Bensusan
Image: ‘A Matter Of Time: The Final Hour’ Official Album Cover
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