Initially, this work may look closer to a difficult academic examination than the latest pop project by an artist whose last hit was a collaboration with an international pop icon. Split into four distinct sections and performed in 13 languages, it is a breathtaking classical-tinged opus exploring feminine mystery, spiritual ascent, and physical change, often by way of the prism of various female saints. The dissolution of a love affair—a theme treated with grounded honesty elsewhere—soars skyward here, buoyed by the constant presence of a full orchestra and work from an award-winning composer within a long roll call of collaborators. The pure daring by itself makes the work of contemporary artists seem rather modest.
Rising Above Academic Pretense
That this album manages to escape dry intellectual chin-stroking is nearly miraculous, and complete praise belonging to the artist. Although it's not her first album to alchemize historical sounds and the present, its scale feel much greater here, and the balancing act more pronounced. What truly raises her fourth album, outside of its multilayered tunes, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, is a core spirit of fun. Similar to the legendary Björk during her peak, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's voice which sweeps you up in its tornado. When she's breaking hearts in two, you still want to be alongside her for the ride.
A Prime Example of Joy
This exuberant energy shines brightly on the stirring piano-led song inspired by Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool over more than four minutes. Then, all the music drops away, and there's a gleeful giggle and a declaration prior to a hilariously exaggerated orchestral crescendo thuds in with cartoonish impact. The track then segues to the frenetic single driven by galloping strings, an imposing choral group, and a surprise role from the artist herself.
"The magic of Lux lies in you never quite understand—or even wish to know—where you is going to next."
Almost every track finishes in a totally different place than how it began. A track examines the transient nature of celebrity over a delicate symphony only to disintegrating into electronic cacophony. Another, a cut echoing the artist's previous trap-infused work begins off moody and sinister, featuring menacing vocals, until sudden traditional handclaps and an angelic chorus arrive to smooth the song's jagged corners.
The Balance Between Experiment & Accessibility
A key balancing act on Lux is navigating the gap between bold experimentation and broad appeal. It is no coincidence that it has become the artist's first release to break into the Top 5 of major charts: at its core a collection of truly undeniable hits. One track sung primarily in the English language swells around a chorus that seems to gather more and more nagging melodies as it spirals upward. That feat gets echoed on another powerful ballad that grows and contracts, weaving multiple tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused song seduces via its playful, theatrical flair and a chant-along chorus.
- In its words, it shares with pop culture impact of contemporary breakup anthems, lambasting a former partner labeled an "emotional bully".
- Throughout these tracks, the vocals have a painted-on edge, like a fairy-tale figure concealing a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
This album is pop on a maximalist scale, an ambitious reach for high Art amid of looming artificial blankness. It rejects self-absorption for sublime transcendence, creating an over-the-top drama that masterfully manages its built-in excess. It is an abundant source of hidden treasure that takes patience to completely explore but doesn't seem like hard work. While some major releases of the year felt like feasting on scraps, this record offers a sumptuous banquet at which the characters at the table, some intoxicated on holy drink, flutter between conversations about historical figures, the galvanizing sensation of heartbreaking sadness, and shared stories about hopeless partners. It is a modern-day musical from music's truly restlessly creative visionary.
