Initially, Lux might appear closer to an arduous scholarly quiz rather than a new pop project by a musician whose previous single was a collaboration with an international pop star. Split across four different sections and sung in 13 tongues, this is a breathtaking orchestral-influenced work that delves into female mystery, religious ascent, and physical transformation, frequently by way of the prism of different women saints. The dissolution of a romance—a topic treated with grounded honesty elsewhere—soars skyward here, supported by the lush sound of a full orchestra and input from an award-winning composer within an extensive list of collaborators. Its sheer audacity alone renders the efforts of other artists look quite modest.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
The fact that Lux succeeds in escape overly academic chin-stroking feels nothing short of miraculous, with complete praise going to Rosalía. Although it's not the first time project to alchemize historical sounds with the present, its stakes feel much greater here, with the tightrope walk far more dramatic. The element that truly raises her fourth album, outside of its multilayered tunes, dense compositions, and inherent theatricality, proves to be a core spirit of fun. Similar to the iconic artist at her height, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you up in its whirlwind. When she is breaking hearts apart, the listener still desire to be right there for the journey.
A Signature Example of Exuberance
This playful energy comes forth clearly on a stirring piano-led ballad about Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a string-drenched melancholy over several minutes. Then, all the music falls away, to reveal there's a spontaneous giggle and a comment before a hilariously over-the-top string surge thuds down like comedic impact. The song then segues to the wild track driven by galloping orchestration, a powerful choir, and a cameo appearance from the artist herself.
"The magic of this album is that you rarely exactly know—or even want to know—where it is going to next."
Nearly every song finishes at a totally distinct point from where it began. One moment examines the fleeting trappings of celebrity with a featherlight orchestration before collapsing into digital chaos. Another, a song echoing her previous trap-infused work begins off moody and sinister, with menacing vocals, before fluttering traditional handclaps and a heavenly choir arrive to smooth the song's jagged edges.
The Balance Between Art & Pop
A key balancing act of Lux is straddling the line between bold innovation and broad accessibility. This is no coincidence that the album has become her highest-charting release to break into the Top 5 of key markets: its heart contains a collection of utterly undeniable hits. A song performed entirely in the English language swells around a chorus that seems to gather increasingly infectious melodies as it spins upward. That trick is repeated on another powerful track that grows and contracts, weaving layered tunes like a complex weave.
- A dance-infused number charms with its jaunty, theatrical flair and a chant-along chorus.
- In its words, it aligns with cultural honesty of other breakup songs, lambasting a former partner labeled an "emotional bully".
- Throughout the album, the singing have a painted-on edge, akin to a storybook character hiding a blade: "Top prize in acting like a motherfucker / You have won the trophy of letdown."
An Opulent Banquet for the Ears
This album is pop on a maximalist level, a hungry reach for high Art in an era of looming artificial blankness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of glorious elevation, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully manages its own inherent ridiculousness. This is an abundant source of buried gems that requires time to fully mine but doesn't feels like hard work. Where other major pop albums of the year felt like feasting on scraps, Lux offers a sumptuous banquet at which the guests around the table, some intoxicated on sacred drink, flit from discussions about ancient figures, the galvanizing sensation of heartbreaking sadness, and shared stories about hopeless men. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from pop's truly restlessly inventive visionary.
