At first glance, Lux could seem closer to a challenging university quiz than a new popular music project by a musician whose last single was a collaboration with an international K-pop star. Split into 4 distinct parts and performed in 13 languages, we have a head-spinning classical-tinged opus investigating female mystique, spiritual ascent, and bodily transformation, often through the perspective of different female saints. The end of a relationship—a topic handled with grounded openness elsewhere—soars heavenward on this record, buoyed by the constant sound of a full orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter among a vast list of contributors. The pure audacity by itself renders the efforts of contemporary artists look rather small.
Rising Above Scholarly Exercise
The fact that this album manages to escape overly academic chin-stroking feels almost a miracle, and sole praise belonging to Rosalía. While this is not the first time project to blend the past with the present, the scale feel far greater on Lux, and the balancing act more precarious. What really elevates this fourth release, beyond its multilayered tunes, rich compositions, and inherent theatricality, is an essential sense of joy. Much like the legendary artist during her peak, there is a wondrous sense to the vocalist's voice which sweeps you up in its whirlwind. Even when she's breaking your heart apart, you nevertheless want to stay right there for the ride.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
This playful spirit shines brightly on a stunning Italian ballad inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a sorrowful melancholy for more than four minutes. Then, all the music falls silent, to reveal we hear a spontaneous laugh followed by a comment prior to a hilariously over-the-top orchestral surge thuds in like comedic impact. The song immediately shifts to the frenetic single driven by racing orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a cameo appearance from the artist Björk.
"The charm of this album lies in you never exactly know—nor wish to predict—where it will go to next."
Nearly each track ends in a totally distinct place than how it began. One moment explores the transient trappings of fame over a delicate symphony only to disintegrating in electronic chaos. Elsewhere, a cut that recalls her earlier rhythmic style begins out dark and sinister, featuring prowling vocals, until fluttering traditional handclaps and an angelic chorus enter to smooth its rough edges.
The Bridge Of Experiment & Accessibility
Another crucial achievement of the album involves navigating the gap between radical experimentation and broad accessibility. It is little coincidence that it has achieved her highest-charting work to crack the Top 5 of major charts: its heart contains a suite of utterly catchy hits. One track performed entirely in the English language swells around a refrain that feels to gather increasingly nagging hooks as it spirals upward. This feat gets repeated by a different powerful ballad that expands and constricts, weaving multiple melodies like a complex weave.
- A waltz-like song seduces with its jaunty, theatrical flair and a chant-along hook.
- Lyrically, it aligns with pop culture honesty of other heartbreak songs, lambasting a former lover described as an "psychological terrorist".
- Throughout the album, the singing have a painted-on edge, akin to a fairy-tale character concealing a knife: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You've the podium of letdown."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
This album is popular music on a maximalist level, an ambitious reach for high artistry amid of looming artificial blankness. It eschews self-absorption for glorious transcendence, creating a dramatic spectacle that masterfully manages its own inherent excess. This is an abundant source of buried treasure that requires time to fully explore but never seem like a chore. While some big releases of the year seemed like feasting on meal, Lux is a lavish banquet where the guests at it, perhaps intoxicated on sacred wine, flutter from discussions about ancient figures, the galvanizing feeling of heartbreaking grief, and shared gossip about useless men. In essence, it's a contemporary musical from music's most restlessly creative visionary.
