#FeatureFriday Time Devours All Things by Safari Room

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Time Devours All Things by Safari Room

Indie/Alt Pop with a big soul. Safari Room is the indie rock outfit and brainchild of Alec Koukol @safariroom.bsky.social

Florgoth Review

If we were to give out awards for picture-perfect productions, Safari Room’s “Time Devours All Things” would be a hot candidate to win one. There is a lot happening in the soundscape of this album; layering, effects, vocal harmonies and creative use of panning, to name a few. However, these things manage to never draw too much attention to themselves or get in the way of the emotional core of the songs.

These are songs about relationships, most of all. The topics range from the end of one to the difficulties and contradictions in attempting to trust another person. Then there are tracks that are more about internal conflicts, like depression and self-discovery.

But this is not supposed to be a sad album, in my estimation; that the album is bookended by two uplifting songs, is a deliberate act to ease the audience into the heavier topics and leave them again with a lighter feeling.

Sound-wise, I’d put this album in the Pop Rock category; a sound that I find very easy to get into. The vocals are bright and friendly sounding, and the tracks are well paced, never overstaying their welcome, but bringing their points across beautifully. The melodies are very catchy and the instrumentation overall is full for this style, but thanks to the mix and production, very clear and easy to listen to.

Overall, I enjoyed this album a lot. From the sound to the lyrical content, these songs have the heart and honesty to feel relatable and thanks to the combined abilities of the people in the production booth and the performers, everything sounds exceptional. With just 37 minutes runtime, it also has the perfect length to never get repetitive. Definitively an album I can recommend to pretty much everyone.

Full disclosure, this was my pick this week and I was unsure. In places it could well be the antithesis of music I dig. Too clean. Too close to mainstream indieesque rock royalty shenanigans.

But.

Something told me to hold on, give it more time and in all honesty it was the first track. I restarted it and let the album flow.

I don’t know why but this somehow avoids dropping into that cursed style of music. Vocally the singer reminds me of Coldplay’s Chris Martin crossed with The Strokes vocalist, Julian Casablancas and that was not a combination that I would normally shimmy with. My heart didn’t want to be in it, with it. My fear was that this was going to be some Imagine Dragons dirge but.

But is not, not at all. This is an album by someone who clearly loves what they do. Feels it and holds it close. The control in the singer’s voice is impeccable, each arrangement is smart, sophisticated and musically interesting. Effortless like Harry Styles, true pop with indie edgings. Soft Alt Rock. It manages to dodge tropes while still maintaining a strong melodic pop edge.

It’s pop with a classic alternative tone, each song stands up. It takes chances, tells stories, creates landscapes all the while staying in it’s lane. It doesn’t strain to be something it’s not but at the same time it’s not a cynical cookie cutter affair. Honesty stands it’s tests. This stands the test and the beauty of this album is that it really does grow on you very quickly. It has a charm of it’s own.

I think that ultimately where this album succeeds is that it has an honest little soul. Nothing feels contrived. Nothing feels out of place and yeah that may feel a little too neat but shit me it works in this case.

Untidy Music

I will admit that when I was first listening to this week’s Feature Friday album I was about ready to throw in the towel. It’s an album that’s clearly made by a talented individual that knows what he’s doing with its intricate arrangements and slick production but it just felt too generic and a bit lifeless to my ears.

Well people, this is what we call a grower cause it’s only a bit later (luckily well before the halfway mark) that the album starts to get interesting for me. When the tracks start to slow down from the uptempo and upbeat tracks and opens up with a focus on more ambience and atmosphere that’s when Safari Room caught my attention.

Especially with the track ‘The King’ being a personal standout track for me. Beginning with a dirty bassline that seems to introduce a more Rock type of feel while not eschewing the sense of ambience that has been built up to so far before the bassline evolves towards a more angular math-rock-y version of itself. And it’s this organic feel towards the arrangements that define this album as it refuses to coagulate into a monotone mess.

There’s always something new to catch your attention in that way creating a sonic narrative of sorts that keeps you invested. And that? That’s what luckily made me change my mind and realize what a fantastic album this really is.

Eveyweveydevey

Updated: May 8, 2026 — 4:54 am

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