At first glance, Lux might appear more like an arduous university quiz rather than the latest pop project from an artist whose previous single was a collaboration with a global pop icon. Divided across 4 distinct movements and performed in thirteen languages, we have a dizzying orchestral-influenced opus that delves into female mystery, religious transcendence, and corporal change, frequently through the perspective of various saintly figures. The end of a relationship—a topic treated with grounded honesty elsewhere—is launched skyward here, carried by the lush presence of a full orchestra and input from an award-winning composer among a long list of contributors. The pure daring alone renders the work of other artists seem quite laughable.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
The fact that Lux manages to transcend overly academic posturing is nothing short of miraculous, and complete credit belonging to the artist. Although this is not the first time project to blend historical sounds and the present, the scale are far greater on Lux, and the tightrope walk more precarious. The element that really elevates this fourth album, beyond its complex melodies, dense compositions, and inherent drama, is an essential spirit of joy. Much like the legendary Björk at her peak, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's voice which sweeps the listener up in its tornado. When she's tearing hearts in two, you nevertheless want to stay alongside her for the journey.
A Prime Moment of Exuberance
This playful energy shines clearly on the stirring piano-led song inspired by Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a string-drenched whirlpool over several moments. Suddenly, all the music falls silent, and there's a spontaneous laugh followed by a comment before a comically exaggerated string surge crashes down like cartoonish force. The song immediately shifts to the frenetic track driven by racing orchestration, a powerful choir, and a surprise role from none other than herself.
"The magic with Lux is that you never quite know—or even wish to know—where it is going to next."
Almost each song concludes in a completely different point from where it began. A track explores the transient trappings of fame over a featherlight orchestration only to collapsing into electronic chaos. Another, a cut echoing her previous rhythmic work begins out dark and brooding, featuring prowling vocals, before sudden flamenco handclaps and an angelic chorus arrive to soften the song's rough corners.
The Balance Between Art and Pop
A key balancing act on the album is navigating the line of radical innovation and broad accessibility. This is little surprise that it has become the artist's first release to break into the upper reaches of major charts: its heart contains a suite of utterly undeniable hits. One track sung entirely in English swells on a refrain that seems to collect more and more infectious melodies while it spirals skyward. That trick is repeated by another expansive ballad that grows and contracts, intertwining layered melodies as a complex tapestry.
- A waltz-like song seduces via its jaunty, Disney-adjacent drama and a chant-along hook.
- In its words, it shares the cultural honesty of other breakup songs, eviscerating a former partner described as an "psychological bully".
- Across these tracks, the vocals have a sharp edge, like a fairy-tale figure concealing a blade: "Gold medal in being a scoundrel / You have the podium of disappointment."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Soul
This album represents pop on a grand level, an ambitious reach for high artistry in an era of impending AI-generated blankness. It rejects solipsism in favor of sublime transcendence, crafting an over-the-top spectacle that skillfully controls its built-in excess. It is an abundant well of buried gems that requires patience to completely explore but never feels like hard work. While some big pop albums of the year felt like feasting on scraps, this record offers a lavish feast at which the characters around the table, some tipsy on sacred drink, flutter from discussions about historical figures, the profound sensation of heartbreaking grief, and shared stories about useless partners. It is a modern-day musical from pop's truly restlessly inventive visionary.
