At first glance, Lux may look closer to an arduous university challenge than a new pop record from an artist whose previous single featured an international K-pop icon. Split into four distinct parts and sung in 13 tongues, it is a head-spinning symphonic work that delves into feminine mystery, religious transcendence, and corporal transformation, frequently through the lens of different female saints. The end of a romance—a theme handled with raw openness elsewhere—soars heavenward here, carried by the lush presence of a major orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter within a long roll call of contributors. The pure daring alone makes the efforts of other pop stars appear rather modest.
Rising Above Academic Exercise
That this album succeeds in avoid overly academic chin-stroking feels nothing short of a miracle, and full praise belonging to Rosalía. While this is not the first time album to blend historical sounds with modern styles, its ambitions feel much higher here, with the tightrope walk more dramatic. What truly elevates this fourth album, beyond its multilayered melodies, rich arrangements, and engrained drama, is an essential sense of fun. Much like the legendary artist at her peak, you find a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing which sweeps the listener into its whirlwind. Even when she is breaking hearts apart, you still desire to stay alongside her through the journey.
A Prime Moment of Exuberance
This playful energy shines brightly during a stirring piano-led ballad about a saint. It bathes in a sorrowful melancholy for several moments. Then, everything drops silent, and we hear a spontaneous giggle followed by a comment before a comically over-the-top string crescendo crashes down like comedic impact. The track immediately segues to the wild single driven by racing strings, an imposing choral group, and a cameo appearance from the artist Björk.
"The magic with Lux is that the listener never exactly know—or even want to know—where you will go next."
Nearly each song concludes at a totally different place than where it began. One moment explores the fleeting nature of celebrity with a delicate orchestration before collapsing into digital chaos. Another, a song that recalls her earlier rhythmic work starts out moody and sinister, with prowling vocals, until sudden flamenco handclaps and a heavenly choir enter to soften its rough corners.
The Balance Of Art & Pop
A key balancing act of the album involves navigating the line between radical innovation and broad accessibility. It is no coincidence that the album has become her highest-charting release to break into the Top 5 of key charts: its heart contains a collection of truly catchy hits. A song performed primarily in English swells on a chorus that seems to gather more and more infectious melodies while it spins upward. This trick is echoed on another powerful ballad that expands and contracts, weaving layered melodies like an intricate weave.
- A dance-infused song seduces via its playful, theatrical drama and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it shares the cultural honesty of contemporary breakup songs, eviscerating a former partner described as an "psychological terrorist".
- Across the album, the singing carry a sharp edge, like a fairy-tale figure hiding a blade: "Gold medal in acting like a motherfucker / You have the podium of disappointment."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Ears
This album represents pop on a grand scale, a hungry grasp for high Art in an era of looming AI-generated sameness. It rejects self-absorption for glorious transcendence, crafting an over-the-top spectacle that masterfully controls its inherent ridiculousness. It is a deep source of hidden treasure that requires patience to fully explore but never seem like a chore. Where some big releases of the year seemed like feasting on scraps, Lux is a lavish feast at which the guests at it, perhaps intoxicated on holy drink, flutter between conversations about historical saints, the galvanizing feeling of soul-shattering grief, and shared gossip about hopeless men. It is a modern-day musical from music's truly endlessly inventive practitioner.
