Initially, Lux may look closer to a challenging university challenge rather than a new pop album from an artist whose last hit featured a global pop icon. Split across 4 different movements and sung in thirteen tongues, we have a breathtaking classical-tinged opus exploring feminine mystique, spiritual ascent, and bodily transformation, frequently by way of the perspective of different saintly figures. The dissolution of a relationship—a topic handled with grounded honesty elsewhere—soars skyward on this record, supported by the lush presence of a full symphony orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter within a long list of contributors. Its sheer audacity by itself renders the efforts of other pop stars look quite small.
Transcending Academic Exercise
That this album succeeds in avoid dry intellectual chin-stroking is almost miraculous, with complete praise belonging to the artist. While it's not her first project to alchemize historical sounds and modern styles, the stakes are much higher here, and the tightrope walk more dramatic. What really elevates this fourth album, beyond its multilayered tunes, dense arrangements, and inherent drama, is an essential sense of fun. Similar to the legendary Björk at her height, there is a wondrous sense to Rosalía's voice that pulls the listener into its tornado. Even when she's tearing hearts apart, the listener still desire to be alongside her through the ride.
A Prime Example of Joy
That playful spirit shines clearly on the stirring piano-led ballad inspired by a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool over more than four moments. Suddenly, all the music drops away, to reveal we hear a spontaneous giggle and a declaration before a hilariously over-the-top orchestral surge thuds down like cartoonish force. The song immediately segues into the frenetic track featuring racing orchestration, a powerful choir, and a surprise appearance from the artist herself.
"The charm of this album lies in you rarely quite understand—nor want to know—what it will go to next."
Nearly each song finishes at a totally distinct point than where it started. One moment examines the transient trappings of fame with a featherlight orchestration before collapsing into electronic chaos. Elsewhere, a song echoing her previous trap-infused style starts off moody and sinister, with menacing vocals, before fluttering traditional handclaps and an angelic chorus arrive to smooth its jagged corners.
The Bridge Of Art and Pop
A key achievement on the album involves navigating the gap of bold experimentation and mainstream accessibility. It is no surprise that it has achieved her first release to break into the Top 5 of key markets: its heart contains a suite of utterly undeniable pop songs. A song performed entirely in the English language swells on a chorus that seems to gather increasingly infectious melodies as it spirals skyward. That feat gets repeated on another expansive track that expands and constricts, weaving multiple tunes as an intricate weave.
- A dance-infused number seduces with its jaunty, theatrical drama and a chant-along hook.
- In its words, it aligns the pop culture impact of contemporary heartbreak songs, lambasting a former lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout the album, the vocals have a painted-on edge, akin to a storybook character hiding a blade: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You have won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Feast for the Ears
This album represents pop on a maximalist level, an ambitious reach for capital-A artistry in an era of looming AI-generated sameness. It rejects self-absorption in favor of glorious elevation, creating an over-the-top spectacle that skillfully manages its own built-in ridiculousness. It is an abundant well of hidden gems that requires patience to completely explore but never seem like a chore. Where some big releases of the year seemed like feasting on scraps, Lux offers a lavish banquet at which the guests around the table, perhaps intoxicated on sacred wine, flutter from discussions about ancient saints, the profound sensation of heartbreaking sadness, and shared stories about hopeless men. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from pop's truly endlessly creative practitioner.
