At first glance, this album might appear more like a difficult university quiz than a new pop record from an artist who just had a previous hit featured a global pop icon. Divided into 4 different parts and performed in 13 languages, it is a head-spinning classical-tinged opus exploring feminine mystique, religious ascent, and bodily change, often by way of the prism of various women saints. The end of a relationship—a theme handled with grounded honesty elsewhere—soars heavenward on this record, buoyed by the lush presence of a major symphony orchestra and work from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter within an extensive list of contributors. Its sheer daring alone makes the work of other pop stars look rather laughable.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
That Lux manages to transcend dry academic posturing is nothing short of a miracle, and complete credit going to Rosalía. Although this is not the first time project to fuse the past with the present, the scale feel far greater here, with the balancing act far more precarious. The element that truly elevates her fourth album, outside of its multilayered melodies, dense arrangements, and inherent drama, proves to be an essential spirit of playfulness. Much like the iconic artist during her height, there is a wondrous sense to Rosalía's voice which sweeps you into its whirlwind. When she's breaking your heart apart, you still want to be right there through the ride.
A Signature Example of Exuberance
That playful spirit shines brightly on a stunning piano-led ballad inspired by a saint. It luxuriates in a string-drenched melancholy for more than four minutes. Then, all the music falls silent, and there's a gleeful giggle followed by a declaration before a comically over-the-top orchestral surge thuds down with comedic impact. The song immediately segues to the frenetic single driven by galloping orchestration, a powerful choir, and a surprise role from none other than herself.
"The charm with this album is that you rarely quite know—or even wish to know—what you will go next."
Almost each song concludes at a totally different place than where it began. One moment examines the transient nature of celebrity with a delicate symphony only to disintegrating into electronic chaos. Another, a song that recalls her previous trap-infused work starts off dark and brooding, featuring menacing vocals, until sudden traditional handclaps and a heavenly chorus enter to smooth the song's rough edges.
The Balance Between Experiment and Accessibility
A key achievement on the album involves navigating the gap between radical experimentation and mainstream appeal. It is no coincidence that it has achieved her first release to break into the Top 5 of major charts: its heart contains a suite of utterly undeniable hits. A song performed primarily in English swells around a chorus that feels to gather more and more nagging hooks while it spirals skyward. This trick gets repeated on another expansive track that expands and contracts, weaving multiple tunes as an intricate weave.
- A waltz-like song charms via its jaunty, theatrical drama and an anthemic chorus.
- In its words, it aligns the cultural impact of other breakup songs, eviscerating an ex- lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout these tracks, the singing have a sharp edge, akin to a fairy-tale character concealing a blade: "Gold medal in being a scoundrel / You have the podium of letdown."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Soul
Lux is popular music on a grand level, an ambitious reach for high Art amid of impending artificial blankness. It rejects solipsism in favor of glorious elevation, creating an over-the-top drama that skillfully controls its inherent excess. It is an abundant source of buried gems that requires patience to fully explore but never seem like hard work. Where other major pop albums of the year felt like a meager meal, Lux offers a lavish feast where the guests around the table, perhaps intoxicated on holy drink, flit between conversations about historical saints, the galvanizing feeling of heartbreaking sadness, and shared stories about hopeless partners. It is a modern-day theatrical production from pop's most restlessly creative visionary.
