On the surface, this album could seem more like a difficult university quiz than a new pop record by a musician who just had a last single featured a global K-pop icon. Broken across four separate movements and voiced in 13 languages, this is a dizzying orchestral-influenced work exploring feminine mystery, religious ascent, and physical change, frequently via the perspective of various saintly figures. The end of a love affair—a theme handled with raw honesty elsewhere—is shot skyward here, supported by the constant presence of a full symphony orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning composer within a vast roll call of collaborators. The pure ambition by itself renders the work of contemporary artists appear rather small.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
The fact that this album succeeds in escape overly intellectual chin-stroking is almost miraculous, with sole credit going to Rosalía. While it's not the first time project to fuse historical sounds and modern styles, its stakes are far higher on Lux, with the tightrope walk more dramatic. The element that really elevates her fourth album, beyond its complex melodies, rich compositions, and inherent theatricality, is an essential spirit of fun. Similar to the legendary Björk during her height, there is a wondrous sense to the vocalist's singing that pulls the listener up in its whirlwind. Even when she is tearing your heart in two, you still desire to stay right there for the journey.
A Signature Moment of Joy
That exuberant spirit comes forth brightly on a stirring Italian song inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a sorrowful whirlpool for several moments. Then, all the music falls away, and there's a gleeful laugh followed by a declaration before a comically over-the-top string crescendo thuds in with cartoonish impact. The track immediately segues to the wild track driven by racing orchestration, an imposing choir, and a surprise appearance from the artist Björk.
"The charm with Lux is that the listener rarely exactly know—or even want to predict—where it will go next."
Almost each track ends at a totally different place than where it started. A track examines the fleeting nature of fame with a delicate orchestration before disintegrating in electronic cacophony. Another, a cut echoing the artist's previous rhythmic style starts off dark and brooding, with menacing beats, until fluttering flamenco handclaps and a heavenly chorus arrive to soften its rough corners.
The Balance Between Experiment & Pop
A key balancing act of the album is straddling the gap between bold experimentation and mainstream appeal. It is no surprise that the album has achieved her highest-charting release to break into the Top 5 of key charts: at its core a collection of utterly undeniable hits. A song performed entirely in the English language swells around a chorus that seems to gather more and more infectious melodies as it spirals skyward. That feat gets echoed by another expansive ballad that expands and constricts, intertwining multiple melodies as an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like song charms with its playful, theatrical drama and an anthemic chorus.
- Lyrically, it aligns the cultural impact of contemporary heartbreak songs, lambasting an ex- partner described as an "emotional terrorist".
- Throughout the album, the singing have a sharp smile, akin to a fairy-tale figure hiding a knife: "Top prize in acting like a scoundrel / You've the podium of letdown."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
Lux is pop on a grand scale, a hungry grasp for capital-A artistry in an era of looming AI-generated blankness. It eschews solipsism for glorious elevation, crafting an over-the-top spectacle that masterfully manages its own inherent ridiculousness. This is a deep well of hidden gems that takes patience to completely mine but never feels like a chore. While other big releases of the year felt like a meager scraps, Lux offers a lavish banquet where the guests around the table, some intoxicated on holy wine, flit between discussions about ancient figures, the profound feeling of heartbreaking sadness, and shared stories about hopeless partners. It is a modern-day musical from pop's truly endlessly creative practitioner.
