At first glance, this work might appear closer to a difficult academic challenge than a new pop album from a musician who just had a previous hit was a collaboration with an international K-pop star. Split across 4 different parts and sung in thirteen languages, we have a head-spinning classical-tinged work that delves into female mystique, spiritual ascent, and bodily transformation, often by way of the perspective of various female saints. The end of a relationship—a theme handled with grounded honesty elsewhere—is launched heavenward on this record, carried by the constant presence of a full symphony orchestra and contributions from an award-winning songwriter among a vast roll call of collaborators. Its sheer ambition alone makes the efforts of other artists appear quite modest.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
The fact that Lux manages to avoid overly intellectual chin-stroking is almost a miracle, with complete praise going to Rosalía. While this is not the first time album to blend the past and the present, its ambitions are far greater here, with the balancing act more pronounced. The element that truly elevates this fourth album, beyond its complex melodies, rich compositions, and engrained theatricality, is an essential spirit of fun. Similar to the legendary Björk during her peak, there is a wondrous quality to the vocalist's singing that pulls the listener into its whirlwind. Even when she is tearing your heart in two, you still desire to be right there through the journey.
A Signature Example of Exuberance
That exuberant energy shines clearly on the stirring piano-led song inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a string-drenched whirlpool for several minutes. Suddenly, all the music falls away, to reveal we hear a spontaneous giggle followed by a declaration before a hilariously exaggerated string surge crashes in like comedic impact. The track immediately segues into the wild single featuring galloping strings, a powerful choir, and a cameo role from none other than Björk.
"The charm of Lux lies in you rarely quite know—nor want to predict—what it is going next."
Almost every song finishes in a completely different point than how it started. One moment explores the transient nature of fame over a delicate orchestration only to collapsing into electronic chaos. Another, a song that recalls her earlier trap-infused style begins out moody and brooding, featuring prowling vocals, before sudden traditional rhythms and a heavenly choir enter to smooth its rough corners.
The Balance Of Experiment and Pop
A key balancing act on the album involves straddling the line between bold experimentation and broad accessibility. It is little coincidence that it has achieved the artist's highest-charting work to break into the upper reaches of major charts: its heart contains a collection of truly undeniable hits. One track sung entirely in the English language swells around a refrain that seems to collect increasingly infectious melodies as it spirals upward. That feat gets echoed on another expansive track that grows and constricts, weaving multiple melodies like a complex weave.
- A dance-infused song charms via its jaunty, Disney-adjacent flair and a chant-along chorus.
- Lyrically, it aligns with cultural impact of contemporary heartbreak songs, eviscerating a former lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout the album, the singing have a painted-on smile, like a fairy-tale character concealing a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Soul
This album is pop on a maximalist level, a hungry grasp for high artistry in an era of looming artificial sameness. It rejects self-absorption for glorious elevation, crafting an over-the-top drama that skillfully manages its built-in excess. This is an abundant well of hidden gems that requires patience to fully explore but never feels like hard work. Where some major releases of the year seemed like a meager meal, Lux is a sumptuous banquet where the guests at it, some tipsy on holy wine, flutter from conversations about historical figures, the profound sensation of heartbreaking sadness, and shared stories about hopeless partners. In essence, it's a modern-day theatrical production from pop's truly endlessly inventive visionary.
