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On the surface, this work may look closer to a difficult academic quiz rather than the latest pop record by an artist whose previous single was a collaboration with an international pop star. Divided across 4 different movements and sung in thirteen tongues, we have a breathtaking orchestral-influenced opus that delves into feminine mystery, religious transcendence, and physical change, frequently by way of the perspective of different female saints. The end of a romance—a topic treated with raw openness elsewhere—is launched upwards here, buoyed by the lush sound of a full orchestra and input from an award-winning songwriter among a long roll call of collaborators. Its sheer ambition alone renders the work of contemporary artists look quite laughable.

Transcending Scholarly Pretense

The fact that Lux manages to escape overly intellectual posturing feels nothing short of a miracle, with complete credit going to Rosalía. While this is not the first time album to alchemize the past and modern styles, its ambitions feel much greater here, with the tightrope walk far more dramatic. The element that truly raises this fourth album, outside of its complex melodies, rich compositions, and inherent drama, proves to be an essential spirit of fun. Much like the legendary artist at her peak, you find a wondrous sense to Rosalía's voice that pulls the listener into its whirlwind. Even when she's breaking your heart in two, you still desire to stay alongside her for the ride.

A Signature Moment of Joy

That exuberant spirit comes forth clearly during a stirring piano-led song inspired by a saint. It bathes in a string-drenched melancholy over several minutes. Then, all the music falls silent, to reveal there's a spontaneous giggle and a declaration prior to a comically over-the-top orchestral crescendo crashes in with comedic impact. The song immediately segues into the frenetic single featuring galloping orchestration, an imposing choir, and a surprise role from none other than Björk.

"The magic of this album lies in you never quite understand—or even want to predict—where you will go to next."

Almost every track ends in a completely different place than where it began. A track explores the fleeting nature of fame with a delicate symphony before disintegrating into electronic cacophony. Elsewhere, a cut echoing her previous rhythmic style begins out dark and sinister, featuring menacing vocals, before fluttering traditional rhythms and a heavenly chorus enter to soften its jagged corners.

The Bridge Of Art & Pop

Another crucial balancing act of Lux is straddling the line of bold experimentation and broad appeal. This is no coincidence that the album has achieved the artist's first work to break into the Top 5 of major charts: at its core a collection of utterly undeniable hits. One track sung entirely in the English language builds around a chorus that feels to gather more and more nagging melodies while it spirals upward. This trick is repeated on a different powerful ballad that expands and contracts, intertwining multiple melodies like a complex tapestry.

• A dance-infused song charms via its playful, theatrical drama and a chant-along chorus.
• In its words, it aligns the pop culture impact of contemporary heartbreak songs, eviscerating an ex- lover described as an "psychological bully".
• Throughout the album, the singing carry a painted-on smile, akin to a fairy-tale character hiding a blade: "Top prize in being a motherfucker / You have won the trophy of letdown."

A Maximalist Banquet for the Soul

Lux represents popular music on a grand scale, a hungry grasp for capital-A artistry in an era of impending AI-generated sameness. It eschews self-absorption for glorious transcendence, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully manages its built-in ridiculousness. This is a deep source of hidden treasure that takes time to completely explore but never seem like a chore. While other big pop albums of the year seemed like feasting on scraps, this record offers a lavish banquet at which the characters around it, some intoxicated on sacred drink, flutter from conversations about ancient figures, the profound sensation of soul-shattering sadness, and common gossip about useless partners. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from music's truly endlessly inventive practitioner.