On the surface, this work could seem more like an arduous university quiz rather than a new pop project by an artist whose last single featured a global K-pop icon. Divided across four different sections and performed in thirteen languages, it is a breathtaking symphonic opus investigating feminine mystery, religious transcendence, and bodily transformation, frequently via the prism of various female saints. The end of a relationship—a theme treated with grounded honesty elsewhere—soars upwards on this record, buoyed by the lush sound of a full symphony orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter among an extensive roll call of collaborators. Its sheer audacity alone renders the work of contemporary artists seem quite modest.
Transcending Academic Exercise
That Lux manages to avoid overly intellectual posturing is almost a miracle, and full credit belonging to Rosalía. Although it's not her first project to blend the past and modern styles, its ambitions feel far greater on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more precarious. The element that truly elevates this fourth release, beyond its multilayered melodies, dense compositions, and engrained drama, proves to be an essential sense of playfulness. Similar to the iconic Björk during her peak, you find a captivating sense to Rosalía's voice which sweeps the listener up in its tornado. When she's tearing your heart in two, the listener still want to be right there for the ride.
A Prime Moment of Exuberance
This playful energy comes forth brightly on a stirring Italian ballad about Saint Clare. It bathes in a string-drenched whirlpool for several moments. Then, all the music falls silent, and there's a gleeful laugh followed by a declaration before a comically over-the-top string crescendo crashes down like comedic impact. The track immediately segues to the frenetic track driven by racing strings, an imposing choir, and a surprise appearance from the artist herself.
"The charm with this album is that the listener never quite know—nor wish to predict—where it will go next."
Nearly every song concludes in a completely distinct point than where it began. A track examines the fleeting nature of celebrity with a featherlight orchestration before collapsing into electronic cacophony. Elsewhere, a cut that recalls the artist's earlier trap-infused work begins off moody and sinister, with menacing beats, until fluttering flamenco rhythms and an angelic chorus arrive to soften its jagged corners.
The Balance Of Experiment & Pop
Another crucial achievement of Lux involves straddling the gap of bold experimentation and broad appeal. This is little surprise that the album has achieved the artist's highest-charting work to break into the Top 5 of major markets: its heart contains a collection of truly catchy pop songs. One track performed primarily in English builds on a refrain that feels to collect more and more nagging hooks as it spirals upward. This feat is repeated by another expansive ballad that grows and constricts, intertwining multiple melodies like an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused song charms with its jaunty, Disney-adjacent flair and an anthemic hook.
- In its words, it shares with pop culture honesty of contemporary breakup songs, lambasting a former lover described as an "emotional terrorist".
- Across these tracks, the vocals have a painted-on smile, like a fairy-tale character concealing a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a motherfucker / You have the podium of letdown."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Ears
Lux represents popular music on a grand scale, an ambitious grasp for capital-A artistry amid of looming artificial blankness. It rejects solipsism for glorious elevation, crafting a dramatic drama that skillfully controls its built-in ridiculousness. It is a deep source of hidden treasure that requires patience to completely explore but doesn't feels like hard work. Where some major releases of the year seemed like a meager meal, this record offers a lavish feast where the guests at it, perhaps tipsy on sacred drink, flutter from conversations about historical saints, the galvanizing feeling of heartbreaking sadness, and common gossip about hopeless men. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from pop's most restlessly creative practitioner.
