On the surface, this work may look closer to a difficult university examination than the latest pop record from an artist whose previous single featured a global pop icon. Broken across four distinct parts and performed in 13 tongues, it is a breathtaking orchestral-influenced opus exploring feminine mystique, religious transcendence, and bodily transformation, often by way of the perspective of different saintly figures. The end of a love affair—a topic handled with raw openness elsewhere—is shot skyward on this record, supported by the constant sound of a major orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning composer among a vast list of collaborators. The pure ambition by itself makes the efforts of contemporary artists seem rather laughable.
Rising Above Scholarly Exercise
The fact that this album succeeds in transcend overly academic posturing is nearly miraculous, with sole credit belonging to the artist. Although it's not the first time project to fuse the past and modern styles, the scale feel much higher on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more pronounced. What really raises her fourth release, beyond its complex melodies, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, proves to be an essential sense of joy. Much like the iconic artist at her peak, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's voice which sweeps you up in its whirlwind. When she is tearing hearts apart, you nevertheless desire to be right there through the ride.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
This exuberant energy shines brightly during a stunning Italian song inspired by a saint. It bathes in a sorrowful melancholy for more than four minutes. Suddenly, all the music drops away, and there's a spontaneous laugh followed by a declaration prior to a hilariously over-the-top orchestral surge crashes in like comedic impact. The track then shifts into the frenetic track featuring racing orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a cameo role from none other than Björk.
"The magic with this album is that the listener rarely exactly know—nor want to know—where it will go next."
Nearly every track finishes in a completely different place than how it began. A track examines the transient trappings of celebrity over a featherlight orchestration only to collapsing in digital cacophony. Another, a song echoing the artist's earlier trap-infused style starts off dark and brooding, with prowling beats, before sudden traditional handclaps and an angelic chorus arrive to soften the song's rough edges.
The Bridge Between Art and Pop
A key balancing act of the album is navigating the gap of radical innovation and mainstream appeal. This is little coincidence that it has achieved her first release to break into the Top 5 of major markets: at its core a collection of truly undeniable hits. One track performed primarily in the English language swells on a refrain that seems to collect increasingly infectious hooks as it spins skyward. That feat is echoed by a different expansive track that expands and contracts, weaving layered tunes as an intricate weave.
- A waltz-like song charms with its jaunty, theatrical flair and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it aligns the pop culture honesty of other heartbreak songs, lambasting a former partner described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout these tracks, the vocals have a sharp edge, akin to a storybook character concealing a knife: "Top prize in acting like a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Ears
This album is pop on a grand scale, an ambitious reach for capital-A artistry in an era of looming artificial sameness. It rejects self-absorption in favor of glorious transcendence, creating a dramatic spectacle that masterfully manages its own built-in ridiculousness. It is an abundant source of buried gems that takes patience to fully mine but doesn't feels like hard work. Where some major releases of the year felt like feasting on meal, Lux offers a sumptuous feast at which the guests at it, perhaps tipsy on sacred drink, flit from discussions about ancient saints, the profound feeling of heartbreaking grief, and shared stories about hopeless partners. It is a contemporary musical from pop's most restlessly creative visionary.
