Initially, Lux could seem more like an arduous scholarly examination than a new popular music project from a musician whose previous hit was a collaboration with a global K-pop icon. Broken into four different sections and performed in 13 tongues, this is a breathtaking classical-tinged work investigating female mystery, spiritual transcendence, and corporal transformation, often via the lens of different women saints. The end of a romance—a topic treated with grounded honesty elsewhere—is launched heavenward on this record, carried by the constant presence of a major orchestra and work from a Pulitzer-winning composer within a vast roll call of collaborators. Its sheer daring alone makes the efforts of contemporary pop stars appear rather modest.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
The fact that this album manages to avoid dry intellectual chin-stroking is nothing short of a miracle, with complete credit belonging to the artist. While this is not the first time album to blend historical sounds with modern styles, its stakes are far greater here, with the balancing act more pronounced. The element that truly raises this fourth album, outside of its multilayered melodies, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, proves to be a core sense of playfulness. Much like the iconic artist during her height, you find a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you into its whirlwind. Even when she's breaking your heart in two, you still want to stay right there through the ride.
A Signature Example of Exuberance
That exuberant spirit comes forth clearly during a stunning Italian ballad inspired by a saint. It bathes in a sorrowful whirlpool over several minutes. Suddenly, everything falls away, to reveal we hear a spontaneous laugh and a comment before a hilariously exaggerated orchestral crescendo thuds down with cartoonish impact. The track then segues to the wild track driven by racing strings, a powerful choral group, and a cameo role from none other than herself.
"The magic with Lux is that the listener never exactly know—nor want to know—where you is going next."
Nearly every song ends at a totally distinct place from where it started. A track explores the transient nature of celebrity over a delicate symphony before disintegrating into digital chaos. Another, a song echoing her earlier rhythmic work starts out dark and brooding, with menacing beats, before sudden traditional rhythms and an angelic choir arrive to soften the song's jagged edges.
The Bridge Between Experiment and Pop
Another crucial balancing act of Lux is navigating the line between bold innovation and mainstream appeal. It is little surprise that it has become her first work to crack the Top 5 of major charts: at its core a collection of truly catchy pop songs. A song performed primarily in English builds on a refrain that seems to collect more and more infectious melodies while it spins upward. That feat is echoed on a different expansive track that grows and constricts, intertwining layered melodies like an intricate weave.
- A dance-infused song charms with its playful, theatrical flair and an anthemic chorus.
- Lyrically, it shares the cultural impact of other heartbreak anthems, eviscerating a former partner described as an "psychological bully".
- Across these tracks, the singing carry a sharp smile, like a fairy-tale character concealing a knife: "Gold medal in being a motherfucker / You have the podium of disappointment."
A Maximalist Feast for the Soul
This album is popular music on a grand scale, a hungry reach for high Art amid of looming artificial sameness. It rejects solipsism in favor of sublime transcendence, crafting an over-the-top drama that skillfully manages its own built-in ridiculousness. It is a deep well of buried treasure that requires patience to fully mine but doesn't seem like hard work. While other major pop albums of the year felt like a meager meal, this record is a lavish banquet at which the guests around the table, some intoxicated on holy drink, flit between discussions about historical figures, the galvanizing sensation of soul-shattering grief, and shared gossip about hopeless partners. It is a contemporary theatrical production from music's truly restlessly creative visionary.
