Initially, Lux might appear closer to an arduous university quiz rather than the latest popular music record from an artist whose previous single was a collaboration with a global pop star. Broken into four different movements and performed in thirteen tongues, this is a breathtaking classical-tinged opus that delves into feminine mystique, religious ascent, and physical change, frequently via the lens of various female saints. The end of a relationship—a topic treated with grounded openness elsewhere—soars heavenward on this record, buoyed by the lush sound of a major orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning composer within a vast roll call of contributors. The pure ambition by itself renders the efforts of other pop stars appear quite modest.
Transcending Academic Pretense
The fact that Lux manages to escape overly academic posturing is almost miraculous, and complete credit belonging to the artist. While it's not her first project to fuse the past and modern styles, the stakes are much greater on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more precarious. The element that truly elevates this fourth album, beyond its multilayered tunes, dense compositions, and inherent theatricality, proves to be an essential spirit of playfulness. Much like the iconic artist at her peak, you find a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing that pulls the listener into its whirlwind. When she's tearing your heart apart, the listener still want to stay alongside her for the journey.
A Signature Example of Exuberance
This exuberant spirit comes forth brightly on a stirring piano-led ballad about Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a sorrowful melancholy over several moments. Suddenly, all the music drops silent, to reveal there's a gleeful giggle followed by a declaration before a hilariously over-the-top string crescendo crashes in with comedic force. The song immediately shifts into the wild track driven by galloping orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a surprise appearance from none other than herself.
"The magic with Lux is that you rarely quite understand—or even want to know—where it will go to next."
Nearly every song ends at a totally different place from where it started. A track examines the fleeting trappings of fame over a delicate symphony only to disintegrating in electronic chaos. Another, a song that recalls her previous rhythmic work starts out moody and brooding, with prowling vocals, before sudden traditional handclaps and a heavenly choir enter to smooth the song's rough corners.
The Balance Of Art & Accessibility
A key balancing act of Lux is straddling the line between radical innovation and broad appeal. It is little surprise that the album has become the artist's highest-charting release to crack the upper reaches of major charts: its heart contains a suite of utterly catchy pop songs. A song performed primarily in English swells on a chorus that feels to gather increasingly nagging melodies as it spirals skyward. That feat is repeated on another expansive track that grows and constricts, intertwining multiple melodies as an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused song seduces via its jaunty, Disney-adjacent drama and an anthemic chorus.
- Lyrically, it aligns the pop culture impact of other breakup songs, eviscerating an ex- partner described as an "psychological terrorist".
- Throughout the album, the singing have a painted-on smile, like a storybook character hiding a blade: "Gold medal in acting like a scoundrel / You've the podium of disappointment."
An Opulent Banquet for the Ears
Lux represents pop on a maximalist level, an ambitious grasp for high Art amid of looming artificial blankness. It eschews solipsism for sublime transcendence, crafting a dramatic drama that masterfully manages its own inherent excess. This is an abundant well of buried treasure that takes patience to fully explore but never seem like hard work. Where some big pop albums of the year felt like a meager meal, this record offers a lavish banquet where the characters around the table, some tipsy on holy drink, flutter from conversations about ancient figures, the profound sensation of heartbreaking grief, and shared gossip about useless partners. It is a contemporary theatrical production from pop's most endlessly creative visionary.
