Initially, this work might appear more like a difficult academic quiz rather than a new pop record from an artist who just had a last hit was a collaboration with an international pop icon. Split into 4 distinct parts and voiced in 13 languages, we have a dizzying orchestral-influenced album exploring feminine mystery, spiritual ascent, and physical transformation, frequently through the prism of different women saints. The dissolution of a relationship—a topic handled with grounded openness elsewhere—soars heavenward on this record, carried by the lush presence of a full symphony orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter among a vast roll call of collaborators. Its sheer ambition alone renders the efforts of contemporary artists seem quite modest.
Transcending Academic Exercise
That this album manages to escape dry academic posturing feels almost miraculous, and complete praise going to Rosalía. While it's not the first time album to blend historical sounds and the present, the ambitions feel far greater on Lux, and the balancing act more dramatic. The element that really raises this fourth album, beyond its complex melodies, dense arrangements, and inherent drama, proves to be an essential sense of joy. Similar to the iconic Björk at her height, you find a wondrous sense to the vocalist's voice that pulls the listener into its whirlwind. Even when she is breaking your heart in two, you nevertheless desire to stay right there through the ride.
A Signature Moment of Exuberance
That exuberant spirit comes forth clearly on the stirring piano-led ballad inspired by Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool over several minutes. Suddenly, all the music drops silent, and we hear a gleeful giggle and a comment prior to a hilariously over-the-top orchestral surge thuds down like cartoonish impact. The track immediately shifts to the wild single driven by galloping orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a surprise appearance from none other than Björk.
"The magic with this album lies in you rarely exactly understand—or even wish to know—where you is going to next."
Almost every song finishes at a totally distinct point than where it started. A track explores the transient nature of celebrity with a featherlight symphony before collapsing in digital chaos. Another, a cut that recalls her previous rhythmic style starts off moody and sinister, featuring prowling vocals, until fluttering traditional rhythms and a heavenly choir enter to smooth the song's rough corners.
The Bridge Between Art and Pop
Another crucial balancing act of Lux involves navigating the line between bold experimentation and broad appeal. It is no surprise that the album has become her first work to break into the upper reaches of major markets: its heart contains a collection of utterly undeniable pop songs. One track performed primarily in the English language builds on a refrain that seems to gather increasingly infectious melodies while it spins upward. This feat is echoed on a different expansive track that expands and constricts, weaving layered melodies like an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like number charms via its playful, Disney-adjacent drama and a chant-along chorus.
- Lyrically, it shares with pop culture honesty of contemporary breakup anthems, eviscerating an ex- partner described as an "psychological terrorist".
- Across these tracks, the singing have a painted-on edge, akin to a storybook character hiding a blade: "Top prize in acting like a motherfucker / You have won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Soul
Lux is pop on a grand scale, an ambitious reach for high Art in an era of impending artificial blankness. It rejects solipsism in favor of glorious elevation, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully manages its own inherent ridiculousness. It is a deep source of hidden gems that takes patience to completely mine but doesn't feels like hard work. Where other major releases of the year felt like feasting on meal, Lux is a sumptuous feast at which the guests around the table, perhaps intoxicated on holy drink, flutter between conversations about historical saints, the galvanizing feeling of heartbreaking grief, and common gossip about hopeless partners. It is a modern-day musical from pop's truly restlessly creative visionary.
