On the surface, this work could seem closer to a difficult scholarly challenge rather than the latest popular music album from a musician whose previous single was a collaboration with a global K-pop star. Divided across four distinct movements and voiced in thirteen tongues, this is a breathtaking orchestral-influenced opus that delves into feminine mystique, spiritual transcendence, and corporal change, frequently through the lens of various female saints. The end of a love affair—a theme treated with raw honesty elsewhere—is shot skyward here, buoyed by the lush sound of a full orchestra and input from an award-winning composer within a long list of contributors. Its sheer daring by itself makes the work of contemporary pop stars seem quite small.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
That this album succeeds in transcend overly intellectual chin-stroking feels almost a miracle, with complete credit going to Rosalía. Although this is not the first time project to blend the past with modern styles, the scale are far greater here, with the tightrope walk more precarious. The element that truly elevates this fourth release, outside of its complex melodies, rich arrangements, and inherent theatricality, proves to be an essential spirit of fun. Much like the iconic artist at her height, you find a captivating quality to Rosalía's voice which sweeps the listener into its whirlwind. When she's breaking your heart in two, you still want to stay alongside her for the journey.
A Prime Moment of Exuberance
This exuberant spirit comes forth clearly during the stirring Italian song about a saint. It luxuriates in a string-drenched melancholy over several minutes. Suddenly, all the music drops silent, and we hear a gleeful laugh followed by a comment before a comically over-the-top string surge crashes in with comedic impact. The song then segues to the wild single featuring galloping orchestration, an imposing choir, and a surprise role from none other than herself.
"The charm with Lux lies in the listener never quite know—or even wish to predict—where you is going to next."
Almost each track concludes at a totally distinct point from where it began. A track examines the fleeting trappings of celebrity with a delicate symphony only to disintegrating in electronic chaos. Elsewhere, a cut that recalls the artist's earlier rhythmic style begins off dark and brooding, featuring prowling beats, before sudden flamenco rhythms and a heavenly choir enter to smooth the song's jagged edges.
The Bridge Between Art and Accessibility
Another crucial balancing act of Lux involves navigating the line between radical innovation and mainstream accessibility. This is no surprise that the album has become the artist's first release to crack the Top 5 of key markets: its heart contains a suite of utterly catchy hits. A song sung entirely in the English language builds on a chorus that feels to gather increasingly nagging hooks as it spins skyward. This feat gets echoed on another powerful track that expands and contracts, intertwining multiple tunes like a complex tapestry.
- A dance-infused number seduces with its playful, Disney-adjacent drama and an anthemic chorus.
- Lyrically, it aligns the pop culture impact of other heartbreak songs, lambasting a former partner described as an "psychological bully".
- Across the album, the singing carry a sharp smile, akin to a fairy-tale figure concealing a knife: "Gold medal in being a motherfucker / You've won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Ears
Lux is popular music on a maximalist scale, a hungry reach for high Art amid of looming artificial blankness. It rejects self-absorption for glorious elevation, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully controls its own built-in excess. It is an abundant source of buried gems that requires time to fully explore but never feels like hard work. While other big pop albums of the year seemed like feasting on scraps, this record is a lavish banquet where the guests around it, some intoxicated on sacred wine, flutter between conversations about historical figures, the galvanizing feeling of soul-shattering grief, and shared gossip about hopeless partners. It is a contemporary theatrical production from pop's truly restlessly creative practitioner.
