At first glance, this work may look more like an arduous scholarly challenge rather than the latest popular music record by an artist who just had a previous hit was a collaboration with an international pop icon. Broken across four separate sections and sung in thirteen tongues, we have a head-spinning classical-tinged work exploring feminine mystique, religious transcendence, and corporal change, frequently by way of the lens of various women saints. The dissolution of a relationship—a topic handled with raw openness elsewhere—is shot skyward on this record, supported by the lush sound of a full symphony orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter within an extensive list of contributors. The pure daring alone makes the work of contemporary pop stars seem rather modest.
Rising Above Scholarly Exercise
The fact that Lux succeeds in transcend dry academic chin-stroking feels nearly miraculous, with full credit belonging to Rosalía. Although it's not the first time project to fuse historical sounds with the present, the ambitions feel much greater here, and the balancing act far more precarious. The element that truly raises this fourth release, outside of its multilayered melodies, dense compositions, and inherent drama, is a core spirit of playfulness. Similar to the iconic artist at her height, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing that pulls you into its tornado. When she's breaking your heart apart, you nevertheless desire to stay right there for the ride.
A Prime Example of Joy
This exuberant energy comes forth brightly on a stunning piano-led song about Saint Clare. It bathes in a string-drenched whirlpool over several minutes. Then, all the music drops away, to reveal we hear a gleeful laugh and a declaration before a comically exaggerated orchestral surge thuds in like comedic force. The track then segues to the frenetic single featuring racing orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a surprise appearance from none other than herself.
"The charm of Lux lies in the listener never exactly know—or even want to know—where you is going to next."
Nearly every song concludes at a totally distinct place than how it began. A track examines the fleeting trappings of celebrity with a delicate orchestration before disintegrating in digital chaos. Another, a cut echoing her previous trap-infused style starts out moody and sinister, with prowling beats, until fluttering flamenco handclaps and an angelic choir arrive to smooth the song's jagged edges.
The Bridge Between Experiment and Pop
A key achievement on the album is navigating the gap of radical experimentation and mainstream accessibility. It is little coincidence that it has achieved her highest-charting work to crack the Top 5 of major markets: at its core a suite of truly undeniable hits. One track performed primarily in the English language builds around a chorus that seems to gather more and more nagging hooks as it spins skyward. This feat gets repeated by another powerful ballad that grows and contracts, intertwining layered tunes as an intricate weave.
- A dance-infused song charms with its jaunty, Disney-adjacent flair and a chant-along chorus.
- In its words, it shares the pop culture impact of contemporary breakup songs, eviscerating a former partner labeled an "psychological bully".
- Throughout these tracks, the singing have a painted-on smile, akin to a fairy-tale figure hiding a blade: "Top prize in acting like a scoundrel / You have the podium of disappointment."
An Opulent Banquet for the Ears
Lux represents pop on a maximalist level, an ambitious reach for high Art in an era of looming artificial sameness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of glorious elevation, crafting a dramatic drama that masterfully controls its built-in excess. It is a deep well of buried treasure that takes time to fully explore but doesn't feels like hard work. Where some major releases of the year seemed like feasting on meal, this record offers a sumptuous banquet at which the characters at it, perhaps tipsy on holy wine, flutter between discussions about historical figures, the galvanizing feeling of heartbreaking grief, and shared gossip about useless partners. It is a modern-day musical from music's truly restlessly creative practitioner.
