On the surface, this work could seem closer to an arduous university quiz rather than the latest popular music record by a musician who just had a last hit featured an international K-pop star. Split across four distinct parts and sung in 13 tongues, we have a dizzying orchestral-influenced work exploring feminine mystique, religious transcendence, and corporal change, frequently by way of the perspective of various women saints. The dissolution of a romance—a theme treated with raw openness elsewhere—is shot upwards here, carried by the constant presence of a full symphony orchestra and work from an award-winning composer within a long roll call of contributors. The pure ambition by itself renders the work of contemporary pop stars look quite modest.
Rising Above Scholarly Exercise
That this album manages to escape dry academic posturing feels nothing short of miraculous, and full credit belonging to the artist. While this is not her first project to alchemize historical sounds with modern styles, its stakes feel much greater on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more precarious. The element that truly elevates this fourth release, outside of its complex melodies, dense arrangements, and engrained theatricality, is an essential sense of joy. Much like the legendary artist during her peak, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's voice which sweeps you into its tornado. When she is tearing hearts in two, the listener still want to be right there for the journey.
A Prime Example of Joy
That playful energy comes forth clearly during the stunning piano-led song about Saint Clare. It bathes in a string-drenched melancholy for more than four moments. Suddenly, everything drops silent, to reveal we hear a gleeful laugh and a declaration before a hilariously exaggerated string surge crashes in like comedic impact. The track immediately segues into the wild track driven by galloping strings, an imposing choir, and a surprise appearance from none other than Björk.
"The magic of Lux lies in the listener never exactly understand—nor want to know—what it will go next."
Almost every track finishes at a completely distinct place from where it began. A track examines the transient nature of celebrity with a featherlight symphony only to collapsing in digital cacophony. Another, a song that recalls the artist's earlier trap-infused style starts off moody and sinister, featuring menacing vocals, until sudden flamenco rhythms and an angelic choir arrive to soften its jagged corners.
The Balance Between Experiment and Pop
A key achievement on the album is navigating the gap of radical innovation and mainstream appeal. This is no coincidence that it has become her highest-charting work to break into the Top 5 of major charts: at its core a collection of truly undeniable hits. A song performed entirely in English builds on a refrain that seems to collect increasingly infectious melodies as it spins skyward. That trick is repeated on another expansive track that expands and constricts, weaving multiple tunes like a complex weave.
- A waltz-like song seduces with its playful, theatrical flair and a chant-along chorus.
- Lyrically, it aligns with cultural impact of contemporary breakup songs, eviscerating an ex- partner labeled an "psychological bully".
- Throughout these tracks, the singing have a sharp smile, like a storybook character concealing a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a motherfucker / You have won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Feast for the Soul
Lux represents pop on a grand level, an ambitious grasp for capital-A artistry in an era of looming artificial sameness. It rejects self-absorption for glorious elevation, creating an over-the-top drama that masterfully controls its built-in excess. It is an abundant source of hidden treasure that requires patience to completely explore but doesn't seem like a chore. Where some major pop albums of the year felt like a meager meal, Lux is a sumptuous feast at which the guests at it, some intoxicated on sacred drink, flutter from discussions about ancient figures, the profound feeling of heartbreaking sadness, and shared stories about useless partners. In essence, it's a contemporary musical from music's most restlessly inventive practitioner.
