At first glance, this work may look closer to an arduous university quiz rather than the latest pop album from a musician whose previous single was a collaboration with an international K-pop star. Broken into four separate parts and performed in thirteen tongues, it is a dizzying symphonic album that delves into female mystique, spiritual ascent, and bodily change, frequently through the perspective of different female saints. The end of a love affair—a topic handled with raw honesty elsewhere—is shot heavenward on this record, buoyed by the lush presence of a full symphony orchestra and contributions from an award-winning songwriter among a vast list of contributors. Its sheer audacity by itself makes the efforts of contemporary artists appear quite laughable.
Transcending Scholarly Exercise
That Lux succeeds in transcend dry intellectual chin-stroking is nearly a miracle, with full credit going to the artist. While this is not her first project to alchemize the past and modern styles, its ambitions feel much higher here, with the balancing act more precarious. What truly elevates this fourth release, beyond its complex tunes, dense compositions, and engrained theatricality, is an essential spirit of fun. Much like the iconic Björk during her height, you find a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you into its tornado. When she is tearing your heart in two, the listener nevertheless want to stay right there through the journey.
A Prime Example of Joy
This exuberant spirit comes forth brightly during a stirring Italian ballad about a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful melancholy for several minutes. Suddenly, all the music drops away, and there's a spontaneous laugh followed by a comment prior to a comically exaggerated string surge thuds down like comedic force. The track then shifts into the frenetic single featuring racing orchestration, a powerful choral group, and a surprise appearance from none other than Björk.
"The charm of Lux is that you never exactly understand—nor wish to know—what it will go next."
Almost each song ends in a completely distinct point than where it began. One moment examines the transient trappings of celebrity with a delicate symphony before collapsing in electronic cacophony. Elsewhere, a cut that recalls the artist's previous rhythmic work begins out moody and brooding, featuring menacing beats, before sudden traditional handclaps and an angelic choir arrive to soften its rough corners.
The Bridge Of Experiment and Accessibility
Another crucial balancing act on Lux is navigating the line between radical experimentation and mainstream appeal. It is no coincidence that the album has become the artist's highest-charting release to break into the Top 5 of major charts: its heart contains a collection of utterly undeniable pop songs. One track performed primarily in the English language builds on a chorus that feels to collect more and more infectious hooks while it spirals upward. That feat gets echoed on another expansive track that grows and contracts, weaving layered melodies like a complex tapestry.
- A waltz-like song charms via its jaunty, theatrical flair and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it shares with pop culture honesty of other heartbreak anthems, eviscerating a former lover labeled an "emotional terrorist".
- Across these tracks, the singing carry a sharp smile, like a fairy-tale character hiding a blade: "Gold medal in acting like a motherfucker / You've the podium of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
This album is popular music on a maximalist level, an ambitious reach for high artistry in an era of looming artificial sameness. It eschews solipsism in favor of sublime transcendence, creating an over-the-top drama that masterfully controls its own inherent excess. It is an abundant well of buried treasure that requires patience to fully explore but doesn't seem like a chore. Where other major pop albums of the year seemed like a meager meal, Lux is a sumptuous banquet where the characters at the table, perhaps tipsy on holy wine, flit from conversations about ancient saints, the profound feeling of soul-shattering sadness, and common stories about hopeless partners. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from music's most endlessly creative practitioner.
