At first glance, this work may look more like a difficult academic examination rather than the latest pop album by an artist whose previous single was a collaboration with a global K-pop star. Broken across four different sections and performed in thirteen tongues, this is a head-spinning classical-tinged work exploring female mystique, religious transcendence, and corporal transformation, frequently by way of the perspective of various saintly figures. The dissolution of a relationship—a theme treated with grounded honesty elsewhere—is shot skyward on this record, carried by the constant presence of a major orchestra and work from a Pulitzer-winning composer among a long list of contributors. Its sheer audacity alone renders the work of other artists appear rather laughable.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
That this album succeeds in transcend dry intellectual posturing feels nearly miraculous, and full praise going to Rosalía. Although it's not the first time project to fuse historical sounds and modern styles, the stakes are far higher here, with the tightrope walk far more pronounced. What really raises this fourth album, outside of its multilayered tunes, rich arrangements, and engrained theatricality, proves to be a core spirit of playfulness. Similar to the legendary artist during her height, there is a captivating sense to the vocalist's singing that pulls the listener into its whirlwind. Even when she is breaking your heart apart, the listener nevertheless desire to stay right there through the ride.
A Signature Example of Exuberance
This exuberant spirit shines brightly during the stirring Italian ballad inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a string-drenched melancholy over several minutes. Then, all the music falls away, to reveal we hear a spontaneous giggle followed by a declaration before a hilariously exaggerated string surge thuds in like comedic force. The song then segues into the wild single featuring galloping strings, an imposing choir, and a cameo appearance from none other than Björk.
"The magic with Lux is that the listener never quite understand—nor wish to predict—what you is going next."
Almost every track finishes at a completely different place from how it started. One moment explores the transient trappings of fame over a delicate orchestration only to disintegrating into electronic chaos. Another, a cut echoing her previous rhythmic style begins off dark and sinister, featuring prowling vocals, until sudden traditional rhythms and a heavenly chorus enter to smooth the song's rough edges.
The Bridge Of Experiment and Accessibility
A key achievement of Lux involves navigating the line between radical innovation and mainstream appeal. It is no surprise that it has achieved the artist's first work to break into the Top 5 of key markets: its heart contains a collection of truly catchy pop songs. One track performed primarily in English swells on a refrain that seems to gather more and more infectious melodies as it spins upward. This trick gets repeated on a different expansive ballad that grows and constricts, weaving multiple melodies as an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused song charms with its jaunty, theatrical flair and a chant-along hook.
- Lyrically, it shares with cultural impact of contemporary heartbreak songs, lambasting a former lover labeled an "psychological bully".
- Throughout the album, the vocals carry a sharp edge, akin to a storybook figure concealing a blade: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You have the podium of disappointment."
A Maximalist Feast for the Soul
This album is popular music on a maximalist scale, a hungry reach for high Art in an era of impending artificial sameness. It rejects solipsism in favor of glorious transcendence, crafting an over-the-top drama that masterfully manages its built-in excess. This is a deep source of hidden gems that takes patience to completely mine but doesn't feels like hard work. While some major pop albums of the year felt like a meager scraps, Lux offers a sumptuous banquet at which the guests around the table, perhaps tipsy on sacred wine, flutter between discussions about ancient saints, the galvanizing feeling of soul-shattering grief, and common gossip about hopeless partners. In essence, it's a modern-day theatrical production from music's most endlessly inventive visionary.
