On the surface, this album could seem closer to a difficult academic examination than a new pop project from an artist who just had a last single was a collaboration with a global pop icon. Split into 4 separate parts and performed in thirteen languages, it is a breathtaking symphonic work exploring female mystique, spiritual transcendence, and physical transformation, frequently via the prism of various women saints. The dissolution of a relationship—a topic treated with raw honesty elsewhere—is launched heavenward here, supported by the lush sound of a full orchestra and work from an award-winning composer among an extensive list of contributors. Its sheer audacity alone makes the work of other pop stars seem rather modest.
Transcending Academic Pretense
The fact that Lux succeeds in avoid overly academic chin-stroking feels nothing short of miraculous, and full praise going to Rosalía. While this is not the first time album to fuse historical sounds with the present, the stakes feel far higher here, and the balancing act far more dramatic. The element that really raises this fourth album, beyond its complex melodies, rich compositions, and inherent drama, is a core sense of fun. Similar to the iconic Björk during her height, there is a wondrous quality to the vocalist's singing that pulls the listener up in its whirlwind. Even when she is tearing your heart apart, you nevertheless desire to be alongside her through the ride.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
This playful spirit shines clearly on the stirring Italian song about a saint. It luxuriates in a string-drenched whirlpool for more than four minutes. Then, all the music falls silent, to reveal there's a gleeful laugh and a comment before a comically over-the-top string surge thuds down like cartoonish force. The track then shifts into the wild track driven by galloping strings, an imposing choral group, and a surprise appearance from none other than herself.
"The magic of Lux is that the listener never exactly know—or even wish to predict—where it will go to next."
Nearly each song concludes at a completely distinct place than how it began. A track explores the transient trappings of celebrity over a featherlight orchestration only to collapsing into digital cacophony. Elsewhere, a song echoing the artist's previous rhythmic work begins off moody and sinister, featuring prowling vocals, before sudden traditional rhythms and a heavenly choir arrive to smooth its jagged corners.
The Bridge Between Experiment & Pop
A key balancing act on Lux involves navigating the line between bold experimentation and broad appeal. This is no coincidence that the album has achieved the artist's first release to break into the upper reaches of key charts: its heart contains a suite of utterly undeniable hits. A song performed entirely in English builds on a refrain that feels to gather increasingly infectious melodies while it spirals skyward. This feat is echoed on a different powerful track that grows and constricts, weaving multiple melodies like a complex weave.
- A waltz-like song charms with its jaunty, theatrical flair and an anthemic chorus.
- Lyrically, it shares with pop culture honesty of contemporary breakup songs, eviscerating an ex- partner labeled an "psychological terrorist".
- Across these tracks, the singing have a painted-on smile, akin to a storybook character concealing a blade: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Feast for the Ears
This album is pop on a maximalist level, a hungry grasp for high Art in an era of impending AI-generated blankness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of sublime elevation, creating a dramatic drama that masterfully controls its inherent ridiculousness. It is an abundant well of hidden treasure that takes time to fully mine but never feels like hard work. Where some major releases of the year felt like feasting on scraps, Lux offers a lavish feast where the guests around it, perhaps tipsy on holy wine, flutter from discussions about ancient saints, the galvanizing sensation of soul-shattering grief, and shared stories about hopeless partners. It is a contemporary theatrical production from pop's truly endlessly inventive practitioner.
