On the surface, this album could seem closer to a difficult scholarly quiz rather than the latest pop album by a musician whose previous single was a collaboration with an international pop icon. Divided across 4 separate sections and performed in 13 languages, it is a breathtaking symphonic work investigating female mystique, religious transcendence, and corporal change, frequently by way of the lens of various women saints. The end of a romance—a theme treated with grounded openness elsewhere—is launched skyward on this record, supported by the lush presence of a full orchestra and work from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter among an extensive roll call of contributors. The pure audacity alone makes the efforts of other pop stars look quite modest.
Rising Above Scholarly Exercise
The fact that Lux succeeds in avoid overly intellectual posturing feels almost miraculous, and sole credit going to Rosalía. While it's not the first time album to alchemize historical sounds and modern styles, the stakes feel much higher on Lux, with the balancing act more dramatic. The element that really elevates her fourth release, outside of its complex tunes, rich compositions, and inherent drama, is an essential sense of joy. Similar to the legendary Björk during her peak, there is a captivating quality to the vocalist's singing that pulls the listener up in its tornado. Even when she's tearing hearts in two, the listener still want to stay alongside her through the journey.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
This playful spirit comes forth brightly during a stirring piano-led song inspired by a saint. It bathes in a string-drenched whirlpool for several minutes. Suddenly, all the music falls away, and there's a spontaneous laugh followed by a declaration prior to a hilariously over-the-top orchestral crescendo crashes in with comedic force. The song immediately shifts into the wild track featuring racing orchestration, an imposing choir, and a cameo role from the artist Björk.
"The charm with this album is that the listener rarely exactly know—or even want to predict—where you will go to next."
Nearly every track concludes in a completely distinct point than how it began. One moment explores the transient trappings of fame with a featherlight orchestration only to collapsing in digital cacophony. Another, a song that recalls her previous trap-infused style begins out dark and sinister, featuring menacing beats, before sudden traditional handclaps and an angelic chorus arrive to soften its jagged corners.
The Bridge Between Art and Pop
A key achievement on Lux is navigating the line of radical innovation and mainstream appeal. It is no surprise that the album has become the artist's first work to crack the upper reaches of key charts: at its core a suite of utterly catchy hits. A song performed primarily in the English language builds around a chorus that seems to collect increasingly nagging melodies while it spins skyward. That feat gets repeated by another powerful ballad that expands and contracts, weaving layered tunes as a complex weave.
- A waltz-like song charms with its playful, theatrical drama and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it aligns the cultural honesty of other breakup songs, lambasting an ex- lover described as an "emotional terrorist".
- Across the album, the vocals carry a painted-on edge, akin to a storybook figure concealing a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of disappointment."
A Maximalist Feast for the Soul
Lux represents popular music on a grand scale, a hungry grasp for high Art amid of looming artificial sameness. It eschews self-absorption for glorious elevation, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully manages its built-in excess. It is a deep source of hidden gems that takes patience to completely explore but never feels like hard work. While other big releases of the year seemed like feasting on scraps, this record offers a sumptuous banquet at which the guests at the table, some tipsy on holy wine, flutter from discussions about ancient saints, the profound sensation of heartbreaking sadness, and shared stories about hopeless partners. It is a contemporary musical from pop's truly endlessly creative visionary.
