On the surface, Lux could seem more like a challenging academic examination rather than the latest popular music album from an artist whose last single was a collaboration with a global pop star. Divided across four different parts and voiced in thirteen languages, we have a dizzying classical-tinged album that delves into feminine mystique, spiritual ascent, and bodily transformation, frequently by way of the lens of different women saints. The end of a relationship—a topic treated with raw openness elsewhere—is launched skyward on this record, supported by the lush sound of a full symphony orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning composer among a long roll call of contributors. Its sheer ambition by itself renders the efforts of contemporary pop stars appear quite small.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
That this album succeeds in avoid overly academic posturing is nearly a miracle, with full praise belonging to Rosalía. While it's not her first album to alchemize the past with modern styles, its scale feel much higher on Lux, with the balancing act more pronounced. The element that truly elevates this fourth release, outside of its complex tunes, dense compositions, and inherent drama, is a core spirit of playfulness. Similar to the legendary artist at her height, there is a wondrous sense to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you into its whirlwind. When she is tearing hearts in two, you nevertheless want to be right there through the journey.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
That playful spirit comes forth clearly on a stunning Italian ballad about a saint. It luxuriates in a string-drenched whirlpool over more than four moments. Suddenly, everything falls away, to reveal there's a gleeful giggle and a declaration before a hilariously exaggerated orchestral crescendo crashes in like comedic impact. The song immediately segues to the frenetic track driven by racing strings, an imposing choir, and a surprise role from the artist herself.
"The charm of this album is that you never quite know—nor want to predict—what you will go next."
Nearly every song concludes in a totally distinct place from where it began. A track examines the fleeting nature of fame over a featherlight symphony before disintegrating into electronic chaos. Another, a song that recalls her previous trap-infused style starts out moody and brooding, featuring prowling vocals, until sudden traditional rhythms and an angelic choir enter to soften the song's jagged edges.
The Balance Between Art and Pop
Another crucial balancing act on Lux involves straddling the gap between radical experimentation and mainstream accessibility. It is no coincidence that the album has achieved the artist's highest-charting release to break into the Top 5 of key charts: at its core a suite of utterly undeniable hits. A song performed entirely in English builds on a chorus that feels to gather more and more infectious hooks while it spins upward. This trick is repeated on another expansive track that grows and contracts, intertwining layered melodies as an intricate weave.
- A dance-infused song seduces with its jaunty, theatrical drama and an anthemic hook.
- In its words, it shares with cultural honesty of other breakup songs, lambasting an ex- partner labeled an "psychological bully".
- Across the album, the singing carry a sharp edge, like a fairy-tale character concealing a blade: "Top prize in acting like a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
Lux is popular music on a grand scale, an ambitious reach for high Art amid of impending AI-generated sameness. It rejects solipsism in favor of sublime elevation, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully manages its inherent ridiculousness. This is an abundant well of hidden gems that requires patience to fully mine but doesn't seem like hard work. While other major pop albums of the year seemed like a meager scraps, Lux offers a sumptuous banquet where the characters at the table, some tipsy on holy wine, flutter between discussions about historical figures, the profound sensation of soul-shattering grief, and shared stories about useless partners. It is a contemporary musical from music's most endlessly inventive visionary.
