Initially, this work may look closer to an arduous university challenge rather than a new pop project by an artist who just had a previous hit was a collaboration with an international K-pop star. Split into 4 different sections and voiced in 13 languages, it is a head-spinning classical-tinged opus investigating female mystique, religious transcendence, and corporal change, often through the prism of various women saints. The end of a love affair—a topic handled with raw openness elsewhere—soars skyward on this record, carried by the constant presence of a major symphony orchestra and contributions from an award-winning songwriter within a vast list of contributors. Its sheer audacity by itself makes the work of contemporary artists appear rather small.
Rising Above Scholarly Exercise
The fact that this album succeeds in escape overly academic posturing is nothing short of a miracle, with sole praise belonging to Rosalía. While it's not the first time project to blend historical sounds with the present, its ambitions feel much higher on Lux, and the tightrope walk more precarious. What really elevates her fourth release, beyond its multilayered tunes, dense arrangements, and inherent drama, is an essential sense of fun. Much like the iconic Björk at her height, you find a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing that pulls you up in its tornado. Even when she is breaking hearts apart, the listener still want to be right there through the journey.
A Prime Example of Joy
This playful spirit shines brightly on the stunning Italian song about a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful melancholy over more than four moments. Suddenly, all the music drops away, to reveal we hear a gleeful laugh followed by a declaration prior to a hilariously over-the-top string crescendo thuds in with comedic impact. The track immediately shifts into the frenetic single driven by racing orchestration, an imposing choir, and a cameo role from the artist Björk.
"The charm with this album is that you never quite understand—nor want to predict—what you is going next."
Nearly each track finishes in a completely different point than where it started. One moment explores the fleeting nature of fame with a delicate orchestration before disintegrating in electronic cacophony. Another, a cut echoing her earlier trap-infused style starts out moody and sinister, with prowling beats, until sudden flamenco rhythms and a heavenly chorus enter to smooth the song's jagged corners.
The Balance Between Art & Accessibility
Another crucial balancing act on the album involves navigating the line of bold experimentation and broad appeal. It is little coincidence that it has achieved the artist's highest-charting release to break into the upper reaches of key markets: its heart contains a suite of truly catchy pop songs. One track sung primarily in English swells around a refrain that seems to collect more and more nagging melodies as it spins upward. This feat is echoed on another expansive ballad that grows and constricts, weaving multiple melodies as a complex tapestry.
- A waltz-like number charms with its jaunty, Disney-adjacent flair and an anthemic chorus.
- Lyrically, it shares with pop culture honesty of contemporary heartbreak songs, eviscerating an ex- lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Across the album, the vocals carry a painted-on edge, like a fairy-tale figure hiding a knife: "Top prize in being a motherfucker / You've the podium of letdown."
An Opulent Feast for the Ears
Lux is pop on a maximalist level, a hungry grasp for capital-A Art amid of impending AI-generated sameness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of sublime elevation, crafting an over-the-top drama that masterfully controls its inherent ridiculousness. It is an abundant source of hidden gems that requires time to completely mine but never feels like a chore. While some major pop albums of the year seemed like feasting on meal, this record offers a lavish feast at which the guests at it, some intoxicated on holy drink, flutter from discussions about historical saints, the galvanizing sensation of soul-shattering sadness, and shared stories about useless partners. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from music's most restlessly creative visionary.
