Initially, this album could seem more like a challenging university examination than the latest pop album by an artist who just had a last single was a collaboration with a global pop star. Divided into 4 distinct sections and performed in 13 tongues, it is a head-spinning orchestral-influenced album that delves into female mystery, spiritual transcendence, and bodily change, often via the perspective of different women saints. The end of a romance—a theme treated with raw honesty elsewhere—is shot upwards on this record, buoyed by the lush sound of a major symphony orchestra and input from an award-winning songwriter among a long list of collaborators. Its sheer ambition alone renders the efforts of other artists look rather modest.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
The fact that this album manages to avoid dry intellectual posturing feels nothing short of miraculous, and complete praise belonging to the artist. Although this is not the first time album to alchemize historical sounds with the present, its stakes are much higher on Lux, with the tightrope walk more dramatic. The element that truly raises her fourth album, beyond its complex tunes, rich compositions, and inherent theatricality, proves to be an essential spirit of playfulness. Much like the iconic artist at her peak, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's voice that pulls the listener into its whirlwind. Even when she's breaking hearts in two, you nevertheless desire to be right there for the journey.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
This playful energy shines brightly on the stunning Italian ballad about a saint. It bathes in a sorrowful melancholy for more than four moments. Then, all the music falls silent, to reveal we hear a spontaneous laugh followed by a comment before a hilariously exaggerated string surge thuds in like cartoonish force. The song then segues to the wild single driven by galloping strings, a powerful choral group, and a surprise role from none other than Björk.
"The charm of Lux lies in the listener never quite understand—or even wish to know—where you will go next."
Nearly every song finishes at a totally different place from where it started. One moment explores the fleeting trappings of fame with a featherlight orchestration only to disintegrating into electronic chaos. Elsewhere, a cut echoing the artist's earlier trap-infused style starts out moody and sinister, with prowling beats, before fluttering traditional rhythms and a heavenly chorus arrive to smooth its rough edges.
The Balance Between Experiment and Accessibility
A key achievement on the album involves straddling the line of bold innovation and broad appeal. It is no surprise that it has become her highest-charting release to crack the upper reaches of key charts: at its core a collection of utterly undeniable pop songs. One track performed entirely in English builds on a refrain that seems to gather increasingly infectious melodies as it spirals skyward. That trick is repeated by another powerful track that expands and constricts, intertwining multiple tunes like a complex tapestry.
- A dance-infused song charms with its playful, theatrical drama and a chant-along chorus.
- Lyrically, it aligns with pop culture impact of contemporary breakup songs, lambasting a former lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout these tracks, the singing carry a sharp edge, akin to a fairy-tale figure concealing a blade: "Gold medal in being a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Ears
This album represents popular music on a maximalist level, an ambitious grasp for high artistry amid of looming AI-generated sameness. It rejects solipsism for sublime transcendence, creating an over-the-top drama that skillfully controls its own inherent ridiculousness. This is an abundant well of buried gems that requires patience to fully explore but doesn't seem like hard work. Where other big pop albums of the year seemed like a meager meal, this record offers a lavish feast at which the guests around it, perhaps tipsy on holy wine, flit from discussions about ancient saints, the profound feeling of heartbreaking sadness, and shared gossip about hopeless men. In essence, it's a modern-day musical from pop's most restlessly creative visionary.
