On the surface, Lux might appear closer to a difficult academic quiz than a new popular music album from an artist whose previous hit was a collaboration with a global K-pop icon. Divided into four different sections and voiced in 13 tongues, it is a breathtaking orchestral-influenced opus exploring feminine mystery, religious ascent, and physical transformation, often by way of the lens of various women saints. The end of a relationship—a topic handled with raw openness elsewhere—is shot upwards on this record, supported by the constant presence of a major orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning composer among a vast list of contributors. The pure daring alone makes the efforts of other pop stars look rather laughable.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
The fact that this album manages to transcend overly academic chin-stroking feels almost miraculous, and full praise belonging to the artist. While this is not her first album to fuse the past with modern styles, the scale are far greater on Lux, and the balancing act far more precarious. What truly elevates this fourth album, beyond its complex tunes, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, is a core sense of joy. Much like the iconic Björk during her height, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing that pulls you into its whirlwind. When she's tearing your heart apart, you still want to stay alongside her through the journey.
A Prime Moment of Joy
That exuberant spirit comes forth clearly during the stirring Italian song inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a string-drenched whirlpool over more than four moments. Suddenly, everything falls silent, and there's a spontaneous laugh followed by a comment before a comically exaggerated orchestral surge crashes in like cartoonish impact. The song immediately segues into the frenetic track featuring galloping orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a surprise appearance from none other than Björk.
"The magic with Lux is that the listener rarely exactly know—nor want to predict—what you will go next."
Nearly every song finishes at a completely distinct point than how it started. One moment examines the fleeting nature of celebrity with a delicate symphony only to disintegrating into digital chaos. Another, a song echoing the artist's previous trap-infused work starts off moody and brooding, with menacing beats, before fluttering traditional handclaps and a heavenly chorus enter to soften its jagged edges.
The Balance Of Experiment and Pop
A key balancing act of Lux is straddling the gap between radical innovation and mainstream appeal. It is little coincidence that the album has become her first work to break into the Top 5 of key markets: at its core a suite of utterly catchy hits. One track performed entirely in the English language builds around a chorus that feels to gather more and more nagging hooks while it spirals skyward. That feat is repeated by another expansive ballad that grows and constricts, weaving layered melodies as an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused song seduces with its jaunty, theatrical drama and a chant-along chorus.
- Lyrically, it shares with cultural impact of contemporary breakup anthems, eviscerating a former partner labeled an "psychological terrorist".
- Throughout these tracks, the singing have a painted-on edge, like a storybook figure concealing a knife: "Top prize in acting like a motherfucker / You have the podium of letdown."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Soul
This album is pop on a maximalist level, an ambitious grasp for capital-A Art in an era of impending artificial sameness. It rejects solipsism for sublime transcendence, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully controls its own built-in ridiculousness. It is a deep well of buried gems that requires patience to completely explore but never seem like a chore. While some major pop albums of the year felt like feasting on meal, Lux offers a lavish banquet at which the characters at the table, perhaps intoxicated on sacred wine, flit from discussions about ancient figures, the galvanizing feeling of heartbreaking sadness, and common stories about useless partners. It is a contemporary theatrical production from pop's truly endlessly inventive visionary.
