At first glance, this work might appear more like an arduous scholarly quiz than a new pop album from an artist who just had a previous single was a collaboration with a global K-pop star. Divided into four distinct movements and voiced in 13 tongues, it is a dizzying symphonic album investigating female mystique, spiritual transcendence, and physical change, often by way of the lens of different saintly figures. The end of a love affair—a topic treated with raw honesty elsewhere—is shot skyward on this record, carried by the constant presence of a full orchestra and input from an award-winning songwriter within a vast roll call of contributors. Its sheer daring alone makes the work of contemporary pop stars appear quite modest.
Transcending Scholarly Exercise
That Lux manages to escape dry academic chin-stroking feels nearly miraculous, and full praise going to Rosalía. While this is not her first project to alchemize historical sounds with the present, the stakes feel far greater on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more pronounced. The element that truly raises her fourth release, beyond its complex tunes, rich arrangements, and inherent theatricality, proves to be a core sense of fun. Much like the iconic artist at her height, there is a captivating quality to the vocalist's voice which sweeps you into its tornado. Even when she's breaking your heart in two, you nevertheless desire to be alongside her for the ride.
A Signature Moment of Exuberance
This exuberant spirit shines clearly on a stirring piano-led song inspired by Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a string-drenched whirlpool for more than four moments. Suddenly, everything drops away, and there's a spontaneous giggle and a comment prior to a hilariously over-the-top string surge crashes down like comedic force. The song then segues to the frenetic track driven by galloping strings, an imposing choral group, and a surprise appearance from the artist herself.
"The charm of this album is that the listener never quite know—nor want to know—where it is going to next."
Almost every track finishes at a completely different point from how it started. One moment examines the fleeting trappings of celebrity with a featherlight orchestration before disintegrating into electronic chaos. Another, a cut that recalls the artist's earlier trap-infused style begins out moody and sinister, featuring menacing beats, before fluttering traditional handclaps and an angelic choir enter to soften its jagged corners.
The Bridge Of Art & Accessibility
A key achievement on Lux is straddling the gap between bold innovation and mainstream appeal. This is little coincidence that the album has become the artist's first work to crack the Top 5 of major markets: its heart contains a suite of truly undeniable hits. One track sung entirely in the English language swells on a refrain that feels to collect increasingly nagging hooks as it spins skyward. This trick is echoed by a different expansive track that expands and contracts, weaving layered tunes like a complex weave.
- A dance-infused number charms with its jaunty, Disney-adjacent drama and an anthemic chorus.
- In its words, it aligns with pop culture impact of contemporary breakup songs, lambasting an ex- partner described as an "emotional terrorist".
- Across these tracks, the vocals carry a sharp smile, like a fairy-tale character hiding a blade: "Gold medal in being a scoundrel / You have the podium of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
Lux is pop on a grand scale, a hungry reach for capital-A artistry amid of impending artificial sameness. It rejects self-absorption in favor of sublime transcendence, crafting an over-the-top spectacle that masterfully controls its own built-in ridiculousness. This is a deep well of buried treasure that takes time to completely explore but doesn't feels like hard work. While some major pop albums of the year felt like a meager meal, Lux is a lavish feast at which the characters around it, some tipsy on sacred wine, flit between discussions about ancient saints, the profound feeling of heartbreaking grief, and shared gossip about hopeless men. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from pop's most endlessly creative visionary.
