At first glance, Lux could seem closer to a difficult academic challenge than a new pop record by an artist whose last single was a collaboration with an international K-pop star. Split into four distinct sections and sung in thirteen languages, we have a breathtaking symphonic work that delves into feminine mystery, religious transcendence, and bodily change, often through the prism of different saintly figures. The end of a romance—a theme treated with grounded honesty elsewhere—is launched upwards on this record, supported by the constant presence of a major orchestra and input from an award-winning songwriter within an extensive roll call of collaborators. The pure audacity by itself renders the work of other pop stars seem quite small.
Rising Above Academic Exercise
That Lux succeeds in transcend dry academic posturing feels almost miraculous, with full praise going to Rosalía. While this is not her first project to alchemize historical sounds with the present, its scale feel much greater on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more dramatic. The element that really raises this fourth release, beyond its complex melodies, dense compositions, and engrained drama, is an essential spirit of fun. Similar to the legendary Björk at her peak, there is a captivating quality to the vocalist's voice that pulls the listener into its tornado. Even when she's tearing hearts apart, you nevertheless desire to be right there for the journey.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
That playful spirit shines brightly during the stunning Italian ballad about Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a sorrowful melancholy for more than four minutes. Suddenly, all the music drops silent, to reveal there's a spontaneous giggle followed by a declaration before a comically exaggerated orchestral crescendo thuds down with cartoonish force. The song immediately shifts into the wild single featuring galloping strings, an imposing choral group, and a surprise appearance from the artist Björk.
"The charm of Lux lies in you rarely exactly understand—nor wish to know—what you is going next."
Almost every track finishes at a completely different point from how it began. A track examines the transient trappings of fame with a featherlight orchestration before collapsing into digital chaos. Elsewhere, a song echoing her earlier rhythmic style begins off moody and brooding, with menacing vocals, before fluttering flamenco handclaps and an angelic choir arrive to soften the song's jagged corners.
The Bridge Of Experiment & Pop
Another crucial achievement on Lux is navigating the gap of bold experimentation and mainstream appeal. It is little surprise that it has achieved the artist's highest-charting release to crack the Top 5 of major charts: its heart contains a collection of truly catchy hits. One track sung entirely in English swells around a chorus that feels to gather increasingly nagging hooks as it spins skyward. That feat gets repeated on another expansive ballad that grows and contracts, weaving multiple tunes as an intricate weave.
- A waltz-like number seduces via its jaunty, theatrical drama and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it aligns with cultural impact of other heartbreak songs, eviscerating a former partner labeled an "emotional bully".
- Across the album, the singing have a painted-on edge, like a fairy-tale character concealing a blade: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of disappointment."
A Maximalist Feast for the Soul
This album is pop on a maximalist scale, a hungry reach for capital-A artistry amid of impending artificial sameness. It eschews self-absorption for sublime transcendence, creating an over-the-top spectacle that skillfully controls its own built-in ridiculousness. This is a deep well of hidden treasure that takes time to completely explore but never seem like a chore. While other major pop albums of the year felt like feasting on scraps, this record offers a sumptuous banquet where the characters around the table, some tipsy on sacred drink, flutter from conversations about historical saints, the galvanizing sensation of heartbreaking sadness, and shared gossip about hopeless partners. It is a modern-day musical from music's truly restlessly inventive practitioner.
