On the surface, this work might appear closer to a challenging academic challenge rather than the latest pop album from a musician whose previous hit was a collaboration with an international K-pop icon. Split into 4 distinct movements and sung in thirteen tongues, this is a dizzying classical-tinged album exploring female mystery, spiritual ascent, and physical change, frequently by way of the perspective of different saintly figures. The end of a relationship—a topic treated with raw openness elsewhere—is shot upwards here, buoyed by the constant sound of a major orchestra and work from an award-winning songwriter within a vast roll call of contributors. The pure ambition alone makes the efforts of other artists look rather modest.
Rising Above Academic Exercise
That this album manages to escape overly academic posturing is nearly miraculous, and sole credit belonging to the artist. Although this is not the first time album to blend the past and modern styles, the scale are far higher here, and the balancing act far more pronounced. The element that really raises her fourth album, beyond its multilayered tunes, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, is a core sense of joy. Much like the iconic artist at her height, you find a captivating quality to Rosalía's voice which sweeps the listener up in its tornado. Even when she's tearing hearts in two, you nevertheless want to stay alongside her for the ride.
A Signature Example of Joy
This playful energy comes forth brightly during the stirring Italian ballad inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a sorrowful melancholy over several moments. Then, everything falls silent, and there's a spontaneous giggle followed by a declaration before a comically over-the-top string crescendo crashes in with cartoonish force. The track then shifts to the wild track driven by racing strings, an imposing choir, and a cameo appearance from none other than Björk.
"The magic of Lux is that the listener never exactly understand—nor wish to know—what it is going next."
Almost each track finishes at a totally distinct place than where it started. One moment examines the fleeting nature of fame with a delicate orchestration only to disintegrating in electronic cacophony. Another, a cut echoing her earlier rhythmic style begins off dark and brooding, featuring menacing beats, until sudden traditional rhythms and an angelic chorus enter to soften its rough corners.
The Balance Of Art and Pop
A key achievement on Lux involves navigating the gap between bold experimentation and mainstream accessibility. This is no coincidence that the album has achieved the artist's highest-charting work to crack the upper reaches of key markets: its heart contains a suite of utterly undeniable hits. One track performed entirely in the English language builds around a chorus that feels to collect more and more nagging hooks while it spirals upward. This feat gets repeated by a different powerful track that grows and contracts, weaving layered tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like number seduces with its playful, theatrical flair and a chant-along chorus.
- In its words, it aligns with pop culture impact of other breakup anthems, eviscerating a former lover labeled an "psychological terrorist".
- Throughout the album, the vocals have a sharp smile, like a storybook figure hiding a blade: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You've the podium of letdown."
An Opulent Feast for the Ears
Lux is pop on a maximalist level, an ambitious reach for capital-A Art in an era of looming artificial sameness. It eschews solipsism in favor of glorious elevation, creating a dramatic drama that masterfully controls its own built-in ridiculousness. This is a deep well of buried treasure that requires patience to fully mine but doesn't feels like a chore. While other major pop albums of the year felt like feasting on scraps, Lux is a lavish banquet where the guests around the table, some tipsy on holy wine, flutter between conversations about ancient saints, the galvanizing sensation of soul-shattering sadness, and common gossip about hopeless partners. In essence, it's a modern-day theatrical production from music's truly restlessly inventive visionary.
