Initially, Lux could seem closer to a difficult academic examination than the latest popular music album by a musician whose previous single was a collaboration with an international K-pop star. Split into 4 separate sections and sung in thirteen languages, we have a head-spinning orchestral-influenced work that delves into feminine mystery, religious transcendence, and physical transformation, often by way of the prism of various women saints. The dissolution of a relationship—a topic treated with raw honesty elsewhere—soars heavenward here, supported by the lush sound of a major symphony orchestra and work from an award-winning composer within a vast list of contributors. The pure audacity by itself renders the efforts of contemporary artists seem rather small.
Transcending Academic Exercise
That Lux manages to escape dry intellectual posturing feels nothing short of miraculous, with complete credit going to the artist. Although it's not the first time project to alchemize the past with modern styles, the ambitions feel far greater here, and the tightrope walk more precarious. What really raises this fourth release, beyond its complex tunes, rich compositions, and engrained drama, proves to be an essential sense of fun. Much like the iconic artist during her height, there is a wondrous quality to Rosalía's singing that pulls you up in its tornado. When she is tearing your heart in two, the listener still want to be alongside her through the ride.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
This playful spirit shines clearly during the stunning piano-led song inspired by Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a string-drenched melancholy over several minutes. Then, all the music falls away, to reveal we hear a gleeful giggle and a declaration before a hilariously over-the-top string crescendo crashes in like comedic force. The track then segues into the frenetic track featuring galloping orchestration, an imposing choir, and a cameo role from none other than Björk.
"The magic of this album is that the listener rarely quite know—or even want to predict—what you is going to next."
Almost every song concludes in a totally different point than where it began. A track explores the transient trappings of fame over a featherlight symphony only to collapsing into electronic chaos. Elsewhere, a song that recalls her earlier rhythmic style begins out dark and brooding, featuring prowling vocals, until fluttering flamenco handclaps and a heavenly chorus arrive to soften its jagged edges.
The Bridge Between Art & Accessibility
Another crucial balancing act of the album involves navigating the gap between bold innovation and broad appeal. This is little surprise that it has become the artist's first work to crack the upper reaches of major charts: at its core a suite of truly catchy pop songs. One track performed primarily in English builds around a refrain that seems to collect increasingly nagging hooks as it spirals upward. That feat is repeated by a different expansive ballad that grows and contracts, weaving multiple tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused number seduces with its jaunty, theatrical flair and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it aligns the pop culture honesty of other heartbreak songs, lambasting a former partner labeled an "emotional terrorist".
- Throughout the album, the singing have a sharp smile, akin to a fairy-tale figure concealing a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Feast for the Soul
Lux represents popular music on a grand level, an ambitious reach for capital-A Art in an era of looming AI-generated sameness. It rejects self-absorption in favor of sublime elevation, crafting a dramatic spectacle that skillfully manages its built-in ridiculousness. It is a deep source of buried treasure that takes patience to fully explore but doesn't feels like hard work. Where other big releases of the year seemed like a meager meal, Lux offers a sumptuous feast where the characters around it, perhaps intoxicated on holy wine, flutter from conversations about ancient saints, the galvanizing feeling of soul-shattering sadness, and shared gossip about hopeless partners. It is a contemporary musical from pop's truly restlessly creative practitioner.
