On the surface, this album could seem more like a difficult university quiz than a new pop record by an artist who just had a last single featured a global K-pop icon. Broken into four distinct sections and performed in thirteen tongues, it is a dizzying symphonic opus that delves into feminine mystique, religious transcendence, and corporal transformation, often via the lens of different female saints. The dissolution of a romance—a topic treated with grounded openness on another major 2025 album—soars upwards here, buoyed by the constant sound of a major symphony orchestra and contributions from an award-winning songwriter within a vast roll call of contributors. Its sheer audacity by itself makes the efforts of other artists look rather modest.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
The fact that Lux manages to transcend dry academic posturing is nothing short of miraculous, and complete credit belonging to Rosalía. While it's not the first time project to fuse the past and modern styles, its ambitions feel much higher here, with the tightrope walk more pronounced. What really raises her fourth album, outside of its complex melodies, rich arrangements, and engrained drama, is an essential spirit of joy. Similar to the legendary artist at her peak, you find a wondrous quality to Rosalía's voice which sweeps the listener into its tornado. Even when she's breaking hearts in two, the listener nevertheless desire to be alongside her through the journey.
A Prime Example of Joy
This exuberant spirit shines brightly during a stunning Italian ballad about a saint. It bathes in a sorrowful whirlpool for several moments. Suddenly, everything drops away, to reveal there's a gleeful giggle and a declaration before a comically exaggerated string surge thuds in like comedic force. The track then shifts into the frenetic track driven by galloping strings, an imposing choir, and a surprise appearance from none other than Björk.
"The magic with Lux is that you never exactly understand—nor wish to predict—where it will go to next."
Almost every song ends in a completely distinct place from how it began. One moment explores the fleeting nature of fame with a delicate orchestration before disintegrating into electronic chaos. Another, a cut that recalls the artist's earlier rhythmic style starts out dark and brooding, with prowling beats, before fluttering traditional handclaps and a heavenly choir enter to soften its rough corners.
The Bridge Of Art and Accessibility
Another crucial achievement of the album is navigating the gap between radical innovation and broad appeal. This is little surprise that the album has become the artist's first release to crack the Top 5 of major charts: at its core a collection of utterly catchy hits. One track performed entirely in English builds on a chorus that feels to gather increasingly infectious melodies while it spirals skyward. This trick is echoed on a different powerful ballad that expands and contracts, weaving multiple tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused song charms via its jaunty, theatrical drama and a chant-along hook.
- In its words, it aligns with pop culture impact of other heartbreak anthems, lambasting a former partner labeled an "psychological terrorist".
- Throughout the album, the vocals have a sharp smile, like a fairy-tale character concealing a knife: "Top prize in acting like a scoundrel / You have the podium of disappointment."
A Maximalist Feast for the Ears
This album is pop on a maximalist scale, an ambitious grasp for capital-A Art amid of impending artificial blankness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of glorious transcendence, crafting an over-the-top drama that skillfully controls its own built-in excess. This is an abundant well of hidden gems that requires time to completely explore but doesn't seem like a chore. Where other big pop albums of the year felt like a meager meal, Lux offers a sumptuous banquet at which the characters at it, some tipsy on holy drink, flit from discussions about ancient figures, the profound sensation of soul-shattering sadness, and common gossip about hopeless men. It is a contemporary musical from music's most endlessly creative practitioner.
