At first glance, this album may look closer to a challenging scholarly challenge than the latest pop project by a musician who just had a previous single was a collaboration with a global pop star. Broken across 4 distinct movements and voiced in 13 tongues, it is a head-spinning orchestral-influenced work that delves into feminine mystique, religious transcendence, and corporal change, often by way of the lens of various female saints. The dissolution of a romance—a topic treated with grounded openness elsewhere—is shot skyward on this record, carried by the constant sound of a full symphony orchestra and input from an award-winning songwriter among a vast list of contributors. Its sheer ambition by itself makes the work of contemporary artists seem quite small.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
The fact that Lux manages to avoid overly academic chin-stroking feels nothing short of miraculous, and complete credit belonging to Rosalía. While this is not the first time album to blend historical sounds and modern styles, its scale are far greater here, and the balancing act more pronounced. The element that really elevates this fourth album, beyond its complex tunes, rich compositions, and engrained theatricality, is an essential spirit of fun. Much like the legendary artist during her peak, there is a wondrous quality to the vocalist's voice which sweeps you up in its whirlwind. Even when she's tearing hearts apart, the listener still desire to stay right there through the ride.
A Signature Example of Joy
That exuberant spirit comes forth brightly on a stirring Italian ballad about a saint. It bathes in a string-drenched melancholy for more than four moments. Then, everything falls away, to reveal there's a spontaneous laugh followed by a comment prior to a comically over-the-top string surge thuds down like cartoonish force. The song then shifts into the frenetic single featuring galloping strings, an imposing choral group, and a surprise role from none other than Björk.
"The magic with this album lies in the listener never quite understand—nor wish to know—what you is going to next."
Nearly every song ends at a totally distinct point from how it began. A track explores the transient trappings of fame with a delicate symphony before disintegrating in electronic cacophony. Elsewhere, a song that recalls the artist's earlier trap-infused work begins out moody and sinister, with prowling beats, before sudden traditional handclaps and a heavenly choir arrive to soften its rough corners.
The Balance Between Art & Accessibility
Another crucial achievement of Lux involves navigating the gap of bold innovation and broad appeal. This is little coincidence that it has achieved her first release to crack the Top 5 of key markets: at its core a suite of utterly undeniable hits. One track sung entirely in the English language swells on a refrain that seems to gather more and more nagging melodies while it spirals upward. That feat is echoed on a different powerful ballad that expands and constricts, intertwining multiple melodies like a complex tapestry.
- A dance-infused song charms via its jaunty, theatrical flair and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it shares with cultural honesty of other heartbreak anthems, lambasting an ex- partner labeled an "psychological terrorist".
- Across these tracks, the singing carry a sharp edge, akin to a fairy-tale figure concealing a knife: "Gold medal in being a scoundrel / You have won the trophy of letdown."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
Lux is popular music on a grand level, an ambitious grasp for high artistry in an era of impending artificial sameness. It eschews solipsism in favor of glorious elevation, crafting a dramatic drama that masterfully controls its own built-in ridiculousness. This is a deep well of buried gems that requires time to completely mine but doesn't feels like a chore. While other major releases of the year felt like feasting on scraps, this record offers a lavish feast at which the guests at it, perhaps intoxicated on sacred wine, flutter from discussions about ancient saints, the galvanizing feeling of soul-shattering sadness, and shared gossip about useless men. In essence, it's a modern-day musical from music's most restlessly creative visionary.
