Initially, Lux may look closer to an arduous scholarly examination rather than a new pop project from an artist who just had a last hit featured a global K-pop icon. Broken into 4 distinct parts and voiced in thirteen tongues, this is a head-spinning orchestral-influenced work that delves into female mystery, religious ascent, and bodily transformation, frequently via the perspective of different female saints. The end of a romance—a theme treated with grounded openness elsewhere—is launched skyward on this record, carried by the constant presence of a major symphony orchestra and input from an award-winning songwriter among a long list of collaborators. Its sheer daring alone makes the work of contemporary pop stars seem quite modest.
Rising Above Academic Exercise
That Lux manages to escape overly academic posturing feels almost miraculous, and complete credit going to the artist. Although this is not her first album to blend the past and modern styles, its ambitions are far greater on Lux, and the tightrope walk far more precarious. The element that truly elevates this fourth album, beyond its complex melodies, rich arrangements, and inherent drama, is a core spirit of playfulness. Similar to the iconic Björk during her peak, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you up in its whirlwind. Even when she is tearing hearts apart, the listener nevertheless want to stay right there through the journey.
A Prime Moment of Joy
This playful spirit shines brightly during a stirring Italian song about a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool over several moments. Suddenly, all the music falls away, and there's a spontaneous laugh and a comment before a comically exaggerated string crescendo thuds down with cartoonish impact. The song immediately shifts to the frenetic single featuring racing orchestration, an imposing choir, and a cameo role from none other than Björk.
"The charm with this album is that you rarely exactly understand—nor wish to know—what it will go to next."
Nearly every song concludes at a completely distinct place from how it began. One moment explores the transient trappings of celebrity over a featherlight symphony before collapsing into electronic cacophony. Another, a song echoing her earlier rhythmic style starts out dark and sinister, with prowling vocals, before sudden flamenco handclaps and an angelic chorus enter to soften the song's rough edges.
The Bridge Between Art and Pop
A key achievement of the album involves straddling the gap of bold innovation and broad accessibility. This is no coincidence that it has become her highest-charting release to crack the upper reaches of major markets: its heart contains a suite of truly undeniable hits. A song sung primarily in the English language builds around a chorus that seems to gather more and more infectious hooks while it spins skyward. That trick gets echoed on another expansive ballad that grows and constricts, weaving layered melodies as a complex tapestry.
- A waltz-like song seduces via its jaunty, theatrical flair and an anthemic chorus.
- In its words, it shares with pop culture impact of other breakup songs, lambasting a former partner described as an "emotional bully".
- Across these tracks, the singing have a sharp edge, akin to a fairy-tale figure concealing a knife: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You have the podium of disappointment."
A Maximalist Feast for the Soul
Lux represents popular music on a maximalist level, an ambitious reach for high artistry amid of impending AI-generated sameness. It eschews self-absorption for glorious transcendence, creating a dramatic drama that masterfully manages its inherent ridiculousness. It is an abundant source of hidden gems that requires patience to fully explore but doesn't seem like a chore. While some major releases of the year felt like a meager meal, this record is a sumptuous feast at which the characters at it, perhaps intoxicated on sacred wine, flutter between conversations about historical saints, the profound sensation of heartbreaking grief, and common stories about useless men. In essence, it's a contemporary musical from pop's most endlessly inventive visionary.
