At first glance, Lux might appear more like a challenging university examination than a new popular music project by an artist whose last single featured a global K-pop star. Broken across four different sections and sung in 13 languages, this is a head-spinning symphonic work that delves into feminine mystique, religious ascent, and corporal change, often through the prism of different saintly figures. The end of a love affair—a theme treated with raw honesty elsewhere—soars upwards on this record, carried by the constant sound of a full symphony orchestra and work from a Pulitzer-winning composer within an extensive roll call of collaborators. Its sheer ambition by itself makes the work of other artists look quite laughable.
Rising Above Academic Exercise
The fact that Lux manages to transcend overly academic chin-stroking feels nothing short of miraculous, with sole credit going to the artist. While this is not her first project to fuse the past with modern styles, its ambitions feel far higher on Lux, and the tightrope walk more pronounced. The element that really raises her fourth release, outside of its complex melodies, rich compositions, and engrained drama, proves to be a core spirit of joy. Similar to the iconic artist at her peak, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's voice which sweeps you into its whirlwind. When she is tearing your heart in two, you still want to be alongside her for the ride.
A Prime Example of Joy
This playful energy shines clearly on a stunning Italian ballad inspired by a saint. It luxuriates in a string-drenched melancholy over several moments. Suddenly, everything falls away, and we hear a gleeful laugh and a comment before a comically over-the-top string crescendo crashes in like comedic impact. The track then segues into the frenetic track featuring galloping orchestration, a powerful choral group, and a cameo appearance from the artist herself.
"The charm with this album lies in the listener never exactly know—nor wish to predict—where it will go next."
Almost every song concludes in a completely distinct point than where it started. A track examines the fleeting nature of celebrity with a featherlight orchestration only to disintegrating into electronic chaos. Another, a cut that recalls her earlier trap-infused work starts off dark and brooding, featuring prowling vocals, until fluttering flamenco rhythms and a heavenly choir enter to smooth the song's jagged edges.
The Bridge Between Experiment and Accessibility
Another crucial balancing act of the album involves navigating the line between radical experimentation and broad appeal. This is little coincidence that it has become her highest-charting work to crack the Top 5 of major markets: at its core a suite of utterly catchy hits. A song performed entirely in the English language builds around a chorus that feels to collect more and more nagging melodies while it spins skyward. This trick is repeated by another expansive ballad that grows and contracts, intertwining multiple tunes as a complex weave.
- A waltz-like song charms via its jaunty, theatrical drama and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it aligns with cultural impact of other breakup anthems, eviscerating a former partner labeled an "emotional bully".
- Across the album, the vocals carry a painted-on edge, like a storybook character hiding a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a motherfucker / You have won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Soul
Lux is popular music on a grand level, an ambitious reach for high artistry in an era of looming artificial sameness. It rejects solipsism for sublime transcendence, creating a dramatic drama that skillfully manages its inherent ridiculousness. It is a deep well of buried gems that takes patience to fully mine but never seem like hard work. While some major pop albums of the year seemed like feasting on meal, Lux is a lavish feast at which the guests around the table, some tipsy on holy drink, flit from discussions about ancient saints, the galvanizing sensation of soul-shattering grief, and common gossip about hopeless men. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from pop's most restlessly creative practitioner.
