Initially, Lux might appear closer to a difficult academic examination than the latest pop project by an artist who just had a previous single was a collaboration with a global K-pop icon. Broken across 4 separate sections and voiced in thirteen languages, this is a breathtaking symphonic opus that delves into female mystery, spiritual transcendence, and bodily transformation, often by way of the perspective of various saintly figures. The dissolution of a romance—a theme treated with raw honesty elsewhere—soars upwards on this record, supported by the constant sound of a major symphony orchestra and input from an award-winning composer among an extensive roll call of collaborators. Its sheer daring alone renders the work of contemporary pop stars look rather laughable.
Rising Above Scholarly Exercise
That Lux manages to avoid dry intellectual chin-stroking is nothing short of miraculous, with full praise going to Rosalía. While this is not the first time album to fuse historical sounds and the present, the scale are far greater here, with the balancing act more pronounced. What truly elevates her fourth album, outside of its multilayered tunes, rich arrangements, and inherent theatricality, is a core sense of joy. Similar to the iconic artist at her peak, you find a wondrous sense to Rosalía's singing that pulls you into its whirlwind. Even when she's tearing your heart in two, you still want to stay alongside her through the ride.
A Prime Moment of Exuberance
That exuberant spirit shines brightly on a stirring piano-led song about a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful melancholy over more than four moments. Then, everything drops away, and there's a spontaneous laugh and a declaration prior to a comically over-the-top orchestral crescendo thuds in with comedic impact. The song then segues to the wild track driven by galloping orchestration, a powerful choir, and a surprise appearance from none other than Björk.
"The magic of Lux is that the listener never quite know—or even wish to know—what you is going next."
Nearly each track concludes at a totally different place than how it began. One moment examines the transient trappings of celebrity with a delicate orchestration before disintegrating in digital cacophony. Elsewhere, a song that recalls her previous rhythmic style begins out dark and brooding, featuring prowling beats, before fluttering flamenco handclaps and a heavenly choir enter to smooth the song's rough edges.
The Balance Between Experiment & Pop
Another crucial balancing act on Lux involves navigating the line between bold experimentation and mainstream appeal. This is no coincidence that it has become the artist's highest-charting release to break into the Top 5 of key markets: its heart contains a suite of truly catchy pop songs. One track sung primarily in English builds on a chorus that seems to collect more and more nagging melodies while it spirals upward. This trick gets repeated on another expansive track that expands and constricts, intertwining layered melodies like a complex tapestry.
- A dance-infused number seduces with its playful, theatrical drama and an anthemic chorus.
- Lyrically, it aligns the pop culture honesty of contemporary heartbreak anthems, eviscerating a former lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout these tracks, the vocals have a sharp edge, akin to a fairy-tale character hiding a blade: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of disappointment."
A Maximalist Feast for the Ears
Lux represents popular music on a grand scale, an ambitious grasp for high artistry in an era of impending artificial sameness. It rejects self-absorption in favor of glorious transcendence, crafting a dramatic drama that skillfully manages its own built-in ridiculousness. It is a deep well of hidden gems that takes time to fully mine but doesn't seem like a chore. Where some big releases of the year felt like feasting on scraps, this record offers a lavish banquet where the guests at it, perhaps intoxicated on holy drink, flit between discussions about ancient saints, the profound feeling of soul-shattering sadness, and shared gossip about hopeless men. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from pop's most endlessly creative practitioner.
