At first glance, Lux might appear more like an arduous scholarly quiz than a new pop album by an artist whose previous hit featured a global pop star. Split across 4 distinct movements and sung in thirteen languages, it is a dizzying symphonic album investigating feminine mystique, spiritual transcendence, and bodily change, frequently by way of the prism of various saintly figures. The end of a love affair—a topic treated with grounded openness elsewhere—is launched upwards on this record, buoyed by the lush presence of a full orchestra and work from an award-winning composer within a vast roll call of collaborators. The pure audacity alone makes the work of contemporary artists look rather laughable.
Rising Above Academic Exercise
That this album succeeds in escape dry academic chin-stroking feels almost miraculous, with sole credit belonging to the artist. While this is not the first time album to alchemize the past with modern styles, its scale are far higher on Lux, with the balancing act more dramatic. What really elevates her fourth release, outside of its complex melodies, rich compositions, and inherent theatricality, is an essential spirit of playfulness. Much like the legendary artist during her peak, there is a wondrous sense to Rosalía's voice which sweeps the listener up in its tornado. When she is breaking hearts in two, the listener still desire to be alongside her for the journey.
A Prime Example of Joy
This exuberant energy comes forth clearly on the stunning piano-led ballad about Saint Clare. It bathes in a sorrowful melancholy over several moments. Then, all the music drops away, to reveal we hear a gleeful giggle and a comment before a comically exaggerated orchestral surge thuds in like comedic force. The track immediately shifts into the frenetic single driven by galloping strings, a powerful choral group, and a cameo appearance from none other than Björk.
"The charm with this album lies in you rarely exactly know—or even want to know—what it is going to next."
Almost each song ends in a totally different point from how it began. A track examines the transient nature of fame with a featherlight symphony before collapsing into digital chaos. Another, a song that recalls her previous rhythmic style begins out moody and brooding, featuring menacing vocals, before fluttering flamenco rhythms and an angelic chorus enter to smooth the song's jagged corners.
The Bridge Between Experiment & Accessibility
A key achievement of the album is navigating the gap between bold experimentation and mainstream accessibility. It is no coincidence that the album has achieved her first release to break into the upper reaches of major charts: at its core a suite of utterly catchy hits. A song sung entirely in the English language builds around a chorus that feels to collect increasingly nagging hooks while it spins upward. This feat gets echoed on another powerful ballad that grows and contracts, weaving multiple tunes as a complex tapestry.
- A dance-infused number charms with its jaunty, Disney-adjacent flair and an anthemic chorus.
- In its words, it shares with cultural honesty of contemporary heartbreak anthems, lambasting a former lover labeled an "psychological bully".
- Across the album, the singing carry a sharp edge, akin to a storybook figure concealing a blade: "Gold medal in being a motherfucker / You've the podium of letdown."
An Opulent Banquet for the Ears
This album is pop on a grand scale, an ambitious reach for high artistry amid of impending AI-generated sameness. It rejects self-absorption in favor of sublime elevation, crafting an over-the-top spectacle that masterfully manages its inherent ridiculousness. It is an abundant source of hidden gems that takes patience to completely mine but doesn't feels like a chore. While some big releases of the year felt like a meager scraps, Lux is a sumptuous banquet where the characters at it, perhaps tipsy on holy wine, flit between conversations about historical figures, the profound sensation of soul-shattering sadness, and shared stories about hopeless men. It is a modern-day theatrical production from pop's most restlessly inventive visionary.
