Initially, Lux might appear more like a difficult university quiz than the latest popular music record from an artist whose previous hit featured a global pop star. Divided into 4 distinct sections and performed in thirteen tongues, it is a head-spinning symphonic work that delves into feminine mystique, religious ascent, and bodily transformation, often through the prism of various female saints. The end of a romance—a theme treated with grounded honesty elsewhere—soars skyward here, carried by the lush sound of a full orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter within a long roll call of contributors. The pure daring by itself renders the efforts of other pop stars seem rather laughable.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
That this album manages to avoid overly academic chin-stroking is nearly miraculous, with sole praise belonging to Rosalía. While this is not her first project to blend historical sounds with modern styles, the ambitions feel much greater here, with the balancing act far more precarious. The element that really raises her fourth album, outside of its multilayered melodies, rich arrangements, and engrained drama, proves to be a core spirit of joy. Much like the iconic Björk during her height, you find a captivating sense to Rosalía's singing which sweeps the listener into its whirlwind. Even when she's breaking hearts apart, you nevertheless want to be alongside her for the journey.
A Prime Moment of Joy
That exuberant spirit shines clearly on a stunning piano-led song about a saint. It bathes in a sorrowful melancholy over several moments. Then, everything drops away, to reveal we hear a gleeful giggle followed by a declaration before a hilariously exaggerated string surge thuds down with cartoonish force. The track immediately shifts into the frenetic single driven by racing strings, a powerful choral group, and a surprise appearance from none other than Björk.
"The magic with this album lies in you never quite understand—or even want to know—where you will go next."
Almost every track concludes at a totally different place from how it started. One moment examines the fleeting trappings of celebrity with a featherlight orchestration only to collapsing into digital cacophony. Another, a song echoing her earlier trap-infused work begins off moody and sinister, featuring prowling vocals, until fluttering traditional rhythms and an angelic chorus enter to smooth the song's jagged corners.
The Balance Of Art and Pop
A key balancing act on the album is navigating the gap of bold innovation and mainstream appeal. This is no coincidence that the album has become the artist's first work to crack the Top 5 of key charts: at its core a collection of utterly undeniable pop songs. One track performed entirely in English builds around a refrain that seems to collect more and more infectious hooks while it spirals skyward. That trick is echoed by another powerful ballad that grows and contracts, weaving layered melodies as an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like song seduces with its jaunty, theatrical flair and a chant-along chorus.
- In its words, it aligns with pop culture honesty of contemporary breakup songs, eviscerating a former lover described as an "psychological terrorist".
- Throughout these tracks, the singing carry a painted-on smile, like a storybook character hiding a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a motherfucker / You have won the trophy of letdown."
An Opulent Banquet for the Ears
This album is pop on a grand level, a hungry reach for high Art amid of impending AI-generated blankness. It eschews solipsism in favor of glorious transcendence, crafting an over-the-top spectacle that skillfully manages its built-in ridiculousness. It is an abundant well of buried treasure that requires patience to completely mine but doesn't feels like a chore. While some major releases of the year felt like a meager meal, Lux offers a lavish feast where the characters at it, some tipsy on sacred wine, flit from conversations about historical figures, the galvanizing feeling of heartbreaking grief, and shared gossip about hopeless men. It is a modern-day theatrical production from pop's most endlessly creative visionary.
