On the surface, this album could seem closer to a difficult academic quiz than a new pop record from a musician whose previous hit was a collaboration with a global K-pop icon. Divided into 4 distinct sections and sung in thirteen tongues, we have a breathtaking classical-tinged opus investigating female mystique, religious transcendence, and corporal change, often via the prism of various female saints. The end of a relationship—a topic handled with raw honesty elsewhere—soars skyward here, supported by the lush sound of a full orchestra and work from an award-winning composer among a vast list of contributors. The pure ambition alone renders the efforts of contemporary pop stars appear quite small.
Transcending Academic Pretense
The fact that this album succeeds in escape dry academic chin-stroking feels nothing short of miraculous, with sole praise belonging to Rosalía. Although it's not her first album to blend the past and the present, the ambitions feel much higher here, and the balancing act far more dramatic. What really elevates this fourth release, outside of its multilayered tunes, dense compositions, and engrained drama, proves to be a core spirit of fun. Much like the legendary artist during her peak, there is a wondrous quality to Rosalía's singing that pulls the listener up in its whirlwind. When she is tearing your heart apart, the listener still want to stay alongside her through the ride.
A Prime Moment of Joy
This playful spirit shines clearly on the stunning piano-led song inspired by Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a string-drenched whirlpool for several moments. Suddenly, everything falls away, to reveal we hear a spontaneous giggle and a comment prior to a hilariously exaggerated string crescendo crashes in like cartoonish force. The song immediately segues into the frenetic single driven by racing orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a cameo appearance from none other than Björk.
"The charm of Lux is that you never exactly know—nor want to know—where it is going to next."
Nearly each track finishes in a totally distinct point than how it started. A track examines the transient nature of celebrity with a delicate orchestration only to disintegrating into electronic cacophony. Another, a cut echoing the artist's earlier trap-infused work begins off moody and sinister, featuring prowling vocals, until fluttering traditional handclaps and a heavenly choir arrive to soften the song's rough edges.
The Bridge Of Art and Pop
Another crucial balancing act of the album is navigating the gap between bold innovation and mainstream accessibility. It is little surprise that it has achieved the artist's highest-charting work to crack the upper reaches of key charts: at its core a suite of utterly undeniable pop songs. One track sung primarily in the English language swells on a refrain that feels to gather more and more nagging melodies as it spirals skyward. This feat gets echoed on another expansive ballad that grows and contracts, weaving multiple tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused number charms with its jaunty, theatrical drama and an anthemic chorus.
- Lyrically, it shares with cultural impact of other heartbreak anthems, lambasting a former lover labeled an "emotional bully".
- Across the album, the singing have a sharp smile, like a fairy-tale figure hiding a blade: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You have won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Ears
This album is pop on a maximalist level, an ambitious grasp for capital-A artistry in an era of looming AI-generated sameness. It eschews solipsism for sublime elevation, creating an over-the-top spectacle that masterfully controls its inherent excess. It is an abundant well of hidden treasure that takes time to completely explore but never seem like hard work. Where some major pop albums of the year seemed like feasting on meal, Lux offers a sumptuous banquet where the guests around the table, perhaps tipsy on sacred drink, flit from discussions about ancient saints, the galvanizing sensation of soul-shattering sadness, and shared gossip about hopeless men. In essence, it's a modern-day musical from pop's truly endlessly creative practitioner.
