On the surface, this album could seem closer to a difficult university examination than the latest pop project from an artist whose last hit was a collaboration with a global K-pop icon. Broken into 4 separate parts and sung in 13 languages, this is a dizzying classical-tinged opus exploring feminine mystique, religious ascent, and physical change, often via the perspective of different women saints. The end of a romance—a theme treated with raw openness elsewhere—soars heavenward on this record, supported by the lush sound of a major symphony orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning composer among a vast list of contributors. The pure audacity by itself renders the work of contemporary artists look quite laughable.
Rising Above Academic Exercise
That this album manages to avoid overly intellectual posturing is nothing short of a miracle, with complete credit going to the artist. While this is not her first project to blend historical sounds and the present, its scale are much greater here, and the balancing act far more dramatic. The element that really raises her fourth release, beyond its complex melodies, dense arrangements, and inherent drama, proves to be a core spirit of joy. Similar to the iconic artist at her peak, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's voice which sweeps you into its whirlwind. Even when she's breaking hearts in two, you nevertheless desire to be right there through the ride.
A Signature Moment of Exuberance
That exuberant spirit comes forth brightly during a stirring Italian song inspired by a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful melancholy for more than four minutes. Then, all the music falls silent, to reveal there's a gleeful giggle and a comment prior to a hilariously exaggerated string crescendo thuds in like comedic force. The song immediately segues into the wild track driven by galloping orchestration, a powerful choral group, and a cameo role from none other than Björk.
"The magic of Lux is that the listener rarely exactly know—or even want to know—what you will go to next."
Nearly every song finishes at a completely distinct point from how it began. One moment explores the transient trappings of celebrity over a featherlight symphony only to collapsing in electronic chaos. Another, a song that recalls her previous trap-infused work begins out moody and brooding, featuring prowling beats, until fluttering flamenco rhythms and an angelic choir enter to smooth its rough edges.
The Bridge Of Experiment and Accessibility
A key achievement of the album involves straddling the gap of radical experimentation and broad accessibility. It is little coincidence that the album has achieved her first work to break into the Top 5 of major charts: at its core a collection of utterly undeniable hits. A song sung entirely in the English language swells around a refrain that seems to collect increasingly infectious melodies while it spins upward. This feat gets echoed on a different expansive ballad that expands and contracts, intertwining layered melodies as a complex tapestry.
- A dance-infused song charms via its jaunty, Disney-adjacent flair and a chant-along hook.
- Lyrically, it shares the cultural honesty of other heartbreak anthems, lambasting an ex- lover labeled an "emotional bully".
- Throughout the album, the vocals have a sharp smile, akin to a storybook character concealing a knife: "Top prize in acting like a motherfucker / You've won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Feast for the Ears
This album represents popular music on a maximalist scale, a hungry reach for capital-A Art amid of impending artificial sameness. It rejects self-absorption for glorious transcendence, creating a dramatic drama that masterfully controls its own built-in ridiculousness. This is a deep well of hidden gems that requires time to completely mine but doesn't feels like hard work. While some major pop albums of the year felt like feasting on scraps, Lux is a sumptuous feast where the guests at it, perhaps tipsy on holy drink, flutter from discussions about ancient saints, the profound sensation of soul-shattering sadness, and common gossip about useless men. In essence, it's a contemporary musical from pop's most restlessly inventive visionary.
