At first glance, Lux could seem closer to an arduous university challenge than a new pop record from an artist who just had a last single was a collaboration with a global K-pop star. Broken into four distinct parts and sung in 13 tongues, we have a breathtaking orchestral-influenced album investigating female mystery, spiritual ascent, and physical transformation, frequently by way of the perspective of various saintly figures. The end of a romance—a theme treated with grounded honesty elsewhere—is launched heavenward here, supported by the lush presence of a full symphony orchestra and work from an award-winning composer among a vast list of contributors. Its sheer ambition by itself renders the work of other artists seem rather modest.
Transcending Academic Pretense
That Lux succeeds in transcend dry academic chin-stroking feels almost a miracle, and sole credit going to the artist. Although it's not her first album to blend the past and modern styles, its stakes feel far higher on Lux, and the balancing act more precarious. The element that really raises her fourth release, beyond its multilayered tunes, dense compositions, and inherent drama, proves to be an essential spirit of joy. Similar to the iconic artist during her height, there is a wondrous sense to Rosalía's singing which sweeps the listener into its whirlwind. Even when she's tearing hearts in two, you still want to be alongside her for the journey.
A Signature Moment of Exuberance
This exuberant spirit comes forth brightly during a stirring piano-led ballad inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a sorrowful whirlpool over more than four minutes. Suddenly, everything drops away, and there's a spontaneous giggle followed by a comment before a hilariously exaggerated string crescendo crashes in with cartoonish force. The song immediately segues into the wild single featuring galloping strings, a powerful choral group, and a surprise appearance from none other than Björk.
"The charm of this album lies in you never quite know—nor want to know—what you will go next."
Nearly each track ends in a completely different place than where it started. A track examines the transient nature of celebrity over a featherlight symphony only to collapsing into electronic chaos. Elsewhere, a song echoing the artist's earlier trap-infused style starts off dark and brooding, with menacing beats, until sudden flamenco handclaps and an angelic choir enter to smooth its jagged edges.
The Bridge Of Experiment & Accessibility
Another crucial balancing act on Lux is straddling the line between radical experimentation and broad appeal. This is little coincidence that the album has become her first release to crack the upper reaches of major markets: its heart contains a collection of truly catchy hits. One track sung entirely in the English language builds on a chorus that feels to gather more and more infectious melodies while it spins skyward. This feat gets repeated on a different expansive ballad that grows and contracts, intertwining multiple tunes as an intricate weave.
- A dance-infused number seduces with its jaunty, Disney-adjacent flair and an anthemic chorus.
- Lyrically, it shares with cultural honesty of other breakup songs, lambasting an ex- lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Across the album, the singing carry a sharp edge, like a fairy-tale character concealing a knife: "Gold medal in being a motherfucker / You have won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Ears
Lux is pop on a maximalist scale, an ambitious grasp for high artistry in an era of looming AI-generated sameness. It rejects self-absorption in favor of glorious elevation, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully controls its built-in excess. It is an abundant well of buried gems that takes time to fully mine but doesn't seem like a chore. While other big releases of the year felt like a meager scraps, this record is a lavish feast at which the guests at the table, perhaps tipsy on sacred drink, flutter from conversations about historical figures, the profound sensation of heartbreaking sadness, and common gossip about useless partners. It is a contemporary theatrical production from pop's most restlessly creative practitioner.
