Initially, this work might appear closer to a challenging scholarly quiz rather than the latest pop album from a musician whose previous hit was a collaboration with an international pop icon. Divided across 4 distinct parts and voiced in thirteen languages, it is a head-spinning classical-tinged opus exploring feminine mystery, religious transcendence, and bodily change, frequently via the prism of various women saints. The dissolution of a romance—a theme treated with raw openness elsewhere—soars heavenward on this record, carried by the constant presence of a full symphony orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning composer among an extensive roll call of contributors. The pure audacity alone renders the efforts of other pop stars seem quite small.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
The fact that this album manages to transcend overly academic chin-stroking feels nothing short of miraculous, and sole praise going to Rosalía. Although it's not her first project to fuse historical sounds with the present, the scale feel much greater on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more pronounced. The element that really elevates her fourth album, beyond its multilayered melodies, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, is a core sense of fun. Similar to the legendary artist during her peak, you find a captivating sense to the vocalist's singing which sweeps you up in its tornado. Even when she is tearing hearts in two, the listener still desire to stay alongside her through the ride.
A Prime Moment of Exuberance
This playful energy comes forth brightly on the stirring Italian ballad inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a sorrowful melancholy for more than four moments. Suddenly, everything drops silent, to reveal there's a spontaneous giggle followed by a declaration prior to a comically over-the-top string crescendo thuds down with comedic impact. The track then shifts to the wild single driven by racing strings, a powerful choral group, and a surprise role from none other than Björk.
"The charm of Lux lies in you never exactly understand—nor want to know—where you is going next."
Nearly every song concludes in a totally distinct point from how it started. One moment explores the fleeting trappings of celebrity over a delicate orchestration only to collapsing into digital cacophony. Elsewhere, a song that recalls the artist's previous trap-infused style starts off dark and brooding, featuring menacing beats, before sudden flamenco handclaps and an angelic choir enter to soften its rough edges.
The Balance Between Art & Pop
Another crucial achievement of Lux involves navigating the line of bold experimentation and broad accessibility. It is little surprise that it has become her highest-charting release to crack the Top 5 of key charts: at its core a collection of truly catchy hits. One track performed entirely in the English language builds on a chorus that seems to gather more and more nagging melodies while it spirals upward. That feat gets echoed by a different expansive track that grows and constricts, weaving multiple tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like song charms via its jaunty, Disney-adjacent flair and an anthemic hook.
- In its words, it shares the pop culture honesty of contemporary breakup anthems, eviscerating a former lover labeled an "psychological bully".
- Across the album, the singing carry a painted-on smile, akin to a storybook figure concealing a knife: "Top prize in acting like a motherfucker / You have the podium of disappointment."
An Opulent Banquet for the Ears
Lux represents popular music on a grand scale, a hungry grasp for high artistry in an era of looming artificial sameness. It eschews solipsism for glorious elevation, creating an over-the-top spectacle that masterfully controls its own inherent ridiculousness. This is an abundant source of hidden treasure that requires time to fully explore but never feels like a chore. Where some big releases of the year seemed like a meager meal, Lux offers a sumptuous feast at which the characters at the table, perhaps tipsy on sacred drink, flutter from conversations about ancient saints, the galvanizing sensation of soul-shattering sadness, and shared stories about useless men. In essence, it's a modern-day musical from pop's most endlessly creative visionary.
