At first glance, this album might appear closer to a difficult academic examination rather than a new pop album by a musician who just had a last hit featured an international pop icon. Broken across 4 different movements and sung in thirteen languages, this is a head-spinning orchestral-influenced opus investigating feminine mystery, spiritual ascent, and physical change, often by way of the perspective of various women saints. The end of a romance—a topic handled with grounded openness elsewhere—is launched upwards on this record, buoyed by the lush sound of a full symphony orchestra and work from an award-winning composer within a long roll call of contributors. The pure ambition alone makes the work of contemporary pop stars seem quite small.
Transcending Academic Pretense
That Lux manages to escape overly academic posturing feels nearly a miracle, and complete praise belonging to Rosalía. While it's not the first time album to fuse the past with the present, the stakes feel much higher here, with the tightrope walk far more dramatic. What really elevates her fourth release, beyond its complex melodies, dense arrangements, and inherent drama, proves to be a core sense of playfulness. Much like the iconic artist during her height, you find a captivating quality to the vocalist's singing which sweeps you into its tornado. When she is breaking hearts in two, you still want to be alongside her for the journey.
A Signature Example of Joy
This exuberant energy shines clearly during the stunning Italian ballad inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a string-drenched whirlpool over several minutes. Then, all the music falls silent, to reveal we hear a spontaneous laugh followed by a comment before a hilariously exaggerated string crescendo thuds in with cartoonish impact. The song immediately segues into the frenetic single featuring racing orchestration, a powerful choir, and a surprise role from the artist herself.
"The charm with Lux is that the listener rarely exactly know—or even want to predict—what you will go next."
Nearly every track ends in a totally distinct place from how it started. One moment explores the fleeting nature of fame with a featherlight orchestration before collapsing into digital chaos. Elsewhere, a song that recalls her earlier rhythmic style begins off moody and sinister, with menacing beats, before sudden flamenco handclaps and an angelic chorus arrive to smooth its jagged corners.
The Bridge Between Experiment & Accessibility
A key balancing act on Lux is straddling the gap between bold experimentation and mainstream accessibility. This is little coincidence that it has become the artist's first release to crack the Top 5 of major markets: its heart contains a suite of utterly catchy hits. One track performed entirely in the English language swells on a refrain that feels to collect more and more nagging melodies as it spins skyward. This feat is echoed by a different powerful ballad that expands and constricts, intertwining multiple melodies as a complex tapestry.
- A dance-infused number seduces via its jaunty, theatrical flair and a chant-along hook.
- Lyrically, it aligns with pop culture impact of other heartbreak anthems, eviscerating a former partner labeled an "psychological bully".
- Throughout the album, the vocals have a painted-on edge, like a fairy-tale character hiding a blade: "Gold medal in being a scoundrel / You have the podium of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Ears
This album is popular music on a maximalist level, an ambitious reach for capital-A artistry in an era of looming AI-generated blankness. It rejects solipsism in favor of sublime elevation, crafting a dramatic drama that skillfully manages its inherent ridiculousness. It is a deep well of buried gems that requires time to fully explore but never feels like a chore. Where some big releases of the year seemed like a meager meal, this record offers a lavish feast where the characters around the table, perhaps tipsy on holy drink, flutter between discussions about historical figures, the profound sensation of soul-shattering grief, and shared stories about useless men. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from pop's most endlessly inventive practitioner.
