At first glance, Lux might appear more like an arduous scholarly examination than a new pop record by a musician who just had a last hit was a collaboration with a global K-pop star. Split into 4 distinct parts and sung in thirteen tongues, this is a dizzying symphonic album exploring female mystery, religious transcendence, and bodily transformation, frequently by way of the perspective of different female saints. The end of a relationship—a theme handled with grounded honesty elsewhere—is shot skyward on this record, buoyed by the lush sound of a full orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning composer among a vast list of collaborators. The pure daring alone renders the efforts of contemporary pop stars appear rather laughable.
Rising Above Academic Exercise
The fact that this album manages to transcend overly academic chin-stroking feels nothing short of miraculous, with complete credit going to Rosalía. While this is not the first time album to alchemize historical sounds with the present, its ambitions are far greater here, and the tightrope walk far more dramatic. What really raises this fourth release, outside of its complex melodies, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, proves to be a core spirit of fun. Much like the iconic Björk during her peak, there is a captivating sense to the vocalist's voice which sweeps you into its whirlwind. When she is breaking your heart in two, you still desire to stay right there for the journey.
A Signature Moment of Joy
That playful spirit comes forth brightly during the stunning piano-led ballad inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a sorrowful melancholy over more than four moments. Then, all the music drops silent, to reveal there's a spontaneous giggle followed by a comment before a hilariously exaggerated string surge crashes in like comedic impact. The song then shifts to the frenetic single featuring galloping strings, an imposing choral group, and a cameo appearance from none other than Björk.
"The charm with Lux is that you never quite understand—nor want to predict—what you is going next."
Nearly each song finishes in a totally different point than where it started. A track examines the transient nature of celebrity with a delicate symphony only to collapsing in electronic chaos. Elsewhere, a cut that recalls the artist's previous rhythmic work starts off dark and brooding, featuring menacing vocals, until fluttering traditional rhythms and an angelic chorus enter to smooth its jagged edges.
The Balance Between Experiment and Accessibility
A key balancing act of Lux is navigating the line between bold innovation and mainstream accessibility. It is little coincidence that it has achieved the artist's first work to break into the upper reaches of major charts: its heart contains a collection of utterly undeniable hits. A song sung entirely in English swells on a refrain that seems to gather increasingly infectious hooks while it spins skyward. This trick is repeated by another expansive track that grows and constricts, weaving layered melodies as an intricate weave.
- A waltz-like number seduces via its jaunty, Disney-adjacent drama and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it shares with pop culture impact of other breakup anthems, eviscerating a former lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout the album, the singing have a painted-on edge, like a storybook character hiding a blade: "Top prize in being a motherfucker / You have the podium of letdown."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
This album represents popular music on a maximalist scale, an ambitious reach for capital-A artistry amid of impending AI-generated sameness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of sublime transcendence, crafting an over-the-top drama that masterfully controls its built-in excess. It is an abundant source of buried gems that takes patience to fully mine but never seem like a chore. Where some big releases of the year seemed like a meager scraps, Lux is a sumptuous banquet where the characters around the table, some tipsy on holy drink, flit between discussions about ancient figures, the profound feeling of soul-shattering sadness, and common gossip about hopeless partners. It is a modern-day musical from music's truly restlessly creative visionary.
