At first glance, this album could seem closer to an arduous scholarly quiz rather than a new popular music album by an artist whose previous single was a collaboration with an international pop icon. Broken into four distinct parts and performed in 13 tongues, this is a dizzying classical-tinged album investigating female mystery, spiritual ascent, and physical transformation, frequently through the lens of various women saints. The dissolution of a love affair—a theme treated with grounded honesty elsewhere—soars upwards here, carried by the lush presence of a major orchestra and contributions from an award-winning composer within an extensive list of contributors. Its sheer daring by itself makes the efforts of contemporary pop stars look quite laughable.
Transcending Academic Exercise
That this album manages to transcend overly academic chin-stroking is nearly miraculous, with full praise going to Rosalía. Although this is not her first project to alchemize the past and the present, its scale feel much higher on Lux, and the balancing act far more dramatic. The element that truly elevates this fourth release, outside of its complex tunes, dense arrangements, and engrained theatricality, is an essential sense of playfulness. Similar to the legendary artist at her peak, there is a wondrous quality to the vocalist's singing which sweeps you into its tornado. When she is tearing your heart apart, the listener still desire to be right there for the ride.
A Signature Moment of Exuberance
This playful energy shines clearly on the stirring piano-led ballad inspired by a saint. It bathes in a string-drenched whirlpool for more than four moments. Then, everything falls silent, and there's a spontaneous laugh and a comment before a comically over-the-top orchestral crescendo crashes in with comedic force. The song immediately segues to the frenetic track driven by galloping strings, a powerful choir, and a surprise role from the artist Björk.
"The magic of this album is that the listener rarely exactly understand—or even wish to know—where you is going next."
Almost every track ends in a totally distinct point than where it started. One moment examines the fleeting nature of celebrity with a delicate symphony only to collapsing into digital chaos. Another, a song echoing the artist's earlier trap-infused style begins out dark and sinister, featuring prowling vocals, until fluttering traditional handclaps and a heavenly choir enter to smooth the song's rough corners.
The Bridge Between Experiment & Pop
A key balancing act on Lux is straddling the line of radical experimentation and mainstream accessibility. It is little coincidence that it has become the artist's highest-charting release to break into the Top 5 of key charts: its heart contains a collection of utterly undeniable hits. A song sung primarily in the English language builds on a chorus that seems to gather more and more nagging hooks as it spirals skyward. That trick is echoed by a different powerful track that grows and constricts, weaving multiple tunes like an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like song charms with its playful, theatrical flair and an anthemic hook.
- In its words, it aligns with pop culture honesty of contemporary breakup anthems, lambasting a former lover labeled an "emotional bully".
- Across these tracks, the singing have a sharp smile, like a fairy-tale figure concealing a blade: "Top prize in acting like a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of disappointment."
A Maximalist Feast for the Ears
This album is popular music on a grand level, a hungry grasp for high artistry amid of looming artificial blankness. It rejects solipsism for glorious transcendence, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully manages its own inherent ridiculousness. This is an abundant source of buried gems that requires time to completely explore but doesn't seem like hard work. While other major releases of the year felt like feasting on meal, Lux offers a lavish feast where the guests around the table, some tipsy on holy drink, flit from discussions about ancient figures, the profound sensation of heartbreaking grief, and common gossip about hopeless men. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from pop's truly endlessly creative visionary.
