On the surface, this album could seem more like a difficult academic quiz than a new pop record by a musician who just had a previous hit featured a global K-pop star. Broken across four different movements and sung in 13 languages, this is a breathtaking classical-tinged work that delves into feminine mystique, spiritual transcendence, and bodily change, frequently by way of the prism of different saintly figures. The end of a love affair—a topic treated with grounded honesty elsewhere—is shot heavenward on this record, supported by the lush sound of a major symphony orchestra and contributions from an award-winning composer within a long list of collaborators. Its sheer audacity by itself makes the efforts of other pop stars look quite small.
Transcending Academic Exercise
That this album manages to avoid overly academic posturing feels nearly a miracle, with sole praise going to Rosalía. While this is not the first time project to alchemize historical sounds with modern styles, the scale feel far higher here, with the tightrope walk more dramatic. The element that really elevates this fourth album, beyond its complex tunes, rich compositions, and inherent theatricality, proves to be a core sense of joy. Much like the legendary Björk at her peak, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you into its whirlwind. When she's breaking your heart in two, the listener still desire to stay alongside her for the journey.
A Signature Moment of Exuberance
That exuberant energy comes forth brightly on a stirring Italian song about Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a sorrowful melancholy for several minutes. Then, everything drops silent, and we hear a gleeful giggle and a declaration before a comically over-the-top orchestral surge thuds in like cartoonish impact. The track then shifts into the frenetic track driven by galloping orchestration, a powerful choir, and a cameo appearance from the artist Björk.
"The magic of this album is that the listener rarely exactly know—or even wish to predict—where it is going next."
Almost every song concludes in a totally different place from where it began. A track examines the fleeting trappings of fame with a delicate orchestration only to collapsing in electronic cacophony. Another, a song that recalls the artist's earlier rhythmic style begins off moody and sinister, featuring prowling beats, until sudden flamenco handclaps and a heavenly chorus enter to soften the song's rough edges.
The Balance Between Experiment & Pop
Another crucial achievement on Lux is navigating the gap of radical experimentation and mainstream accessibility. This is no coincidence that it has become her highest-charting release to break into the Top 5 of key charts: at its core a collection of truly undeniable pop songs. One track sung entirely in the English language swells on a refrain that feels to gather increasingly nagging melodies as it spirals upward. This trick is repeated by another powerful ballad that expands and constricts, intertwining multiple tunes like an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like song seduces with its playful, theatrical drama and an anthemic chorus.
- Lyrically, it shares the pop culture impact of other heartbreak anthems, lambasting an ex- lover described as an "emotional terrorist".
- Across the album, the vocals carry a painted-on smile, akin to a storybook figure concealing a knife: "Top prize in being a motherfucker / You have the podium of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
Lux is popular music on a grand level, an ambitious reach for capital-A Art amid of impending artificial sameness. It rejects solipsism in favor of sublime elevation, crafting an over-the-top drama that masterfully controls its own inherent ridiculousness. This is a deep source of hidden gems that takes time to completely mine but doesn't feels like a chore. While some major releases of the year seemed like feasting on meal, Lux is a lavish banquet where the characters at it, some intoxicated on holy wine, flit between conversations about ancient saints, the profound sensation of heartbreaking grief, and common gossip about hopeless men. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from music's truly restlessly inventive practitioner.
