At first glance, Lux may look more like a difficult scholarly quiz rather than a new pop record by an artist whose previous hit was a collaboration with an international K-pop star. Divided into four distinct sections and performed in 13 tongues, it is a dizzying orchestral-influenced work that delves into feminine mystique, spiritual transcendence, and bodily transformation, frequently via the lens of different female saints. The dissolution of a romance—a theme handled with raw openness elsewhere—is launched upwards on this record, carried by the constant sound of a major symphony orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter within a vast roll call of collaborators. Its sheer daring alone renders the efforts of other artists look rather small.
Transcending Academic Pretense
That Lux succeeds in avoid overly academic posturing is almost a miracle, and full credit belonging to the artist. While it's not her first project to fuse historical sounds and the present, its scale feel far higher on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more dramatic. The element that really raises this fourth album, beyond its multilayered melodies, dense compositions, and inherent drama, is an essential sense of joy. Similar to the iconic Björk at her peak, there is a captivating sense to Rosalía's voice that pulls the listener into its whirlwind. When she's tearing your heart apart, you still want to stay right there through the ride.
A Signature Moment of Joy
That exuberant energy comes forth brightly on the stunning Italian ballad about Saint Clare. It bathes in a sorrowful whirlpool over several minutes. Suddenly, everything falls silent, and we hear a gleeful laugh and a comment before a comically over-the-top string surge crashes down with cartoonish impact. The track immediately segues into the frenetic track featuring galloping strings, an imposing choral group, and a cameo appearance from the artist herself.
"The charm of Lux is that you rarely exactly understand—or even wish to predict—what it will go next."
Nearly every track concludes in a totally different point from where it started. One moment explores the fleeting nature of fame over a delicate orchestration before disintegrating in digital chaos. Elsewhere, a song that recalls her previous rhythmic work starts out moody and brooding, with menacing vocals, before fluttering traditional rhythms and an angelic chorus arrive to soften the song's rough corners.
The Balance Of Experiment and Pop
A key balancing act of the album is navigating the line between bold innovation and mainstream appeal. It is little coincidence that it has become the artist's first work to break into the Top 5 of major markets: its heart contains a suite of utterly catchy pop songs. A song performed primarily in English builds on a refrain that feels to collect more and more infectious hooks as it spirals upward. That feat is echoed by a different powerful ballad that grows and contracts, weaving layered melodies as a complex weave.
- A dance-infused number charms with its playful, theatrical flair and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it aligns the cultural impact of other heartbreak songs, lambasting a former partner described as an "emotional terrorist".
- Throughout the album, the vocals carry a painted-on smile, like a storybook figure concealing a knife: "Top prize in acting like a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Ears
This album represents popular music on a grand scale, an ambitious grasp for capital-A Art in an era of looming artificial sameness. It rejects solipsism in favor of glorious transcendence, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully manages its inherent excess. This is a deep source of hidden treasure that takes time to fully explore but never feels like hard work. While some major pop albums of the year seemed like feasting on scraps, this record offers a sumptuous banquet at which the guests at it, perhaps tipsy on holy drink, flutter between conversations about historical saints, the profound feeling of heartbreaking grief, and shared stories about hopeless partners. It is a contemporary theatrical production from music's truly restlessly creative visionary.
