On the surface, this album may look closer to a difficult scholarly quiz than a new pop record from a musician who just had a last hit featured a global pop icon. Broken across four distinct sections and performed in 13 tongues, this is a breathtaking symphonic work that delves into feminine mystique, religious transcendence, and bodily transformation, often via the prism of various women saints. The end of a love affair—a topic treated with raw openness elsewhere—is shot heavenward here, carried by the lush presence of a full symphony orchestra and work from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter within an extensive roll call of collaborators. Its sheer daring by itself makes the work of other pop stars look quite laughable.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
The fact that this album succeeds in transcend overly academic chin-stroking feels nearly a miracle, with full credit belonging to Rosalía. While it's not the first time album to blend historical sounds and modern styles, its scale feel far greater on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more precarious. The element that really raises her fourth album, outside of its complex tunes, dense arrangements, and engrained theatricality, is a core sense of fun. Similar to the iconic artist during her height, there is a captivating sense to the vocalist's singing that pulls the listener into its whirlwind. When she's breaking hearts in two, you still want to stay alongside her for the ride.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
That playful energy comes forth clearly during a stunning Italian ballad inspired by a saint. It luxuriates in a string-drenched melancholy over several moments. Then, all the music drops silent, and we hear a spontaneous laugh followed by a comment before a comically over-the-top string surge thuds in like comedic impact. The song then shifts to the frenetic single driven by galloping orchestration, a powerful choral group, and a cameo role from none other than Björk.
"The charm of this album lies in the listener never quite understand—nor want to know—what it is going to next."
Nearly each track finishes in a totally different point than how it started. A track examines the fleeting nature of fame with a featherlight orchestration before collapsing in digital cacophony. Another, a song that recalls the artist's earlier rhythmic work begins out dark and brooding, featuring prowling vocals, until sudden traditional handclaps and a heavenly choir enter to soften its rough edges.
The Bridge Of Art and Accessibility
A key achievement on the album is navigating the line of bold experimentation and mainstream appeal. It is no surprise that the album has become the artist's first work to break into the Top 5 of major markets: its heart contains a suite of utterly undeniable hits. One track performed entirely in English builds around a chorus that seems to collect increasingly infectious melodies as it spins skyward. This feat is echoed on another expansive track that expands and constricts, intertwining multiple tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like number seduces via its playful, theatrical drama and a chant-along hook.
- In its words, it shares with pop culture impact of other heartbreak anthems, eviscerating an ex- lover described as an "emotional bully".
- Throughout the album, the vocals have a painted-on edge, akin to a fairy-tale figure concealing a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a scoundrel / You have the podium of letdown."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Ears
Lux represents pop on a maximalist scale, a hungry grasp for high Art in an era of looming artificial sameness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of sublime transcendence, creating an over-the-top spectacle that skillfully controls its own built-in excess. It is an abundant well of hidden gems that requires time to fully explore but never seem like hard work. Where other major pop albums of the year felt like feasting on scraps, this record offers a sumptuous banquet where the guests at it, some intoxicated on sacred wine, flutter from conversations about historical saints, the profound sensation of heartbreaking grief, and shared stories about hopeless partners. In essence, it's a modern-day musical from pop's truly restlessly creative practitioner.
