At first glance, Lux may look closer to a challenging scholarly quiz rather than a new popular music project by a musician whose previous hit was a collaboration with an international K-pop star. Divided into 4 separate sections and voiced in 13 tongues, this is a dizzying classical-tinged album investigating female mystique, religious ascent, and physical transformation, often via the lens of various women saints. The dissolution of a love affair—a theme handled with grounded openness elsewhere—is shot upwards on this record, buoyed by the lush sound of a major symphony orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning composer within an extensive roll call of collaborators. The pure audacity by itself renders the efforts of other pop stars seem rather modest.
Transcending Scholarly Exercise
The fact that Lux succeeds in transcend overly intellectual chin-stroking is nothing short of miraculous, with complete praise belonging to Rosalía. Although it's not her first album to alchemize historical sounds and the present, its scale are far greater on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more dramatic. The element that truly raises her fourth release, beyond its complex tunes, rich compositions, and inherent theatricality, is a core sense of playfulness. Similar to the legendary artist at her height, you find a captivating quality to Rosalía's voice which sweeps you up in its whirlwind. When she's breaking hearts apart, you still want to stay right there through the ride.
A Prime Moment of Joy
That playful energy shines clearly on the stirring piano-led ballad about a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful melancholy over several moments. Suddenly, everything falls away, and there's a gleeful giggle followed by a comment before a comically exaggerated string crescendo thuds in with comedic impact. The track immediately segues to the wild single featuring racing strings, an imposing choral group, and a cameo appearance from the artist Björk.
"The magic of this album lies in the listener never exactly know—or even want to predict—what it is going to next."
Nearly every track concludes in a totally distinct point from how it began. One moment examines the transient nature of celebrity with a featherlight symphony only to disintegrating into digital chaos. Elsewhere, a song echoing her earlier rhythmic style begins out moody and brooding, with prowling beats, until fluttering flamenco rhythms and an angelic choir arrive to smooth the song's rough edges.
The Balance Of Experiment and Pop
Another crucial balancing act of the album involves navigating the gap between radical innovation and broad appeal. This is no coincidence that it has become her highest-charting release to break into the upper reaches of key markets: its heart contains a collection of utterly catchy hits. One track performed entirely in the English language builds on a refrain that seems to collect increasingly nagging melodies while it spirals skyward. This trick is repeated by a different powerful track that grows and constricts, intertwining multiple tunes as an intricate weave.
- A waltz-like number seduces with its jaunty, theatrical flair and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it shares with pop culture honesty of contemporary heartbreak songs, lambasting a former lover described as an "psychological terrorist".
- Across these tracks, the singing carry a sharp edge, like a fairy-tale character hiding a blade: "Gold medal in acting like a scoundrel / You have the podium of letdown."
An Opulent Banquet for the Ears
This album is popular music on a maximalist scale, a hungry grasp for high artistry in an era of impending AI-generated blankness. It eschews self-absorption for glorious transcendence, creating an over-the-top spectacle that masterfully controls its own inherent ridiculousness. This is an abundant well of buried gems that takes time to completely explore but doesn't feels like hard work. While some major pop albums of the year felt like a meager meal, Lux offers a sumptuous feast at which the guests around it, some tipsy on sacred wine, flit from discussions about historical saints, the profound sensation of soul-shattering sadness, and shared gossip about hopeless men. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from pop's truly restlessly creative practitioner.
