At first glance, this work could seem closer to a difficult scholarly examination rather than the latest pop record from a musician who just had a last hit featured a global K-pop icon. Divided across four distinct parts and sung in 13 languages, this is a breathtaking orchestral-influenced opus that delves into female mystique, religious ascent, and bodily transformation, frequently via the prism of different female saints. The end of a relationship—a theme treated with grounded openness on another major 2025 album—is launched upwards on this record, supported by the lush sound of a full symphony orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning composer within a long roll call of collaborators. The pure audacity by itself renders the work of other artists seem rather small.
Transcending Academic Pretense
That Lux manages to escape dry intellectual posturing is almost a miracle, and sole praise going to Rosalía. Although it's not the first time project to blend historical sounds with the present, its ambitions are far greater here, and the balancing act more precarious. What really raises this fourth album, beyond its complex tunes, dense compositions, and inherent drama, proves to be an essential sense of joy. Much like the legendary Björk during her height, there is a wondrous quality to the vocalist's singing which sweeps the listener into its whirlwind. Even when she's breaking hearts in two, the listener still desire to be alongside her for the ride.
A Prime Example of Joy
That playful energy shines brightly on the stunning piano-led song about a saint. It bathes in a sorrowful whirlpool for several moments. Suddenly, everything drops silent, and we hear a spontaneous laugh followed by a declaration before a comically exaggerated orchestral surge thuds down with comedic impact. The track then segues to the wild single driven by racing orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a surprise role from the artist Björk.
"The magic with this album is that you rarely quite know—nor wish to know—what it will go to next."
Almost each track finishes in a completely distinct point from where it started. One moment examines the fleeting trappings of fame over a delicate orchestration only to collapsing in electronic chaos. Elsewhere, a song that recalls the artist's earlier rhythmic work starts out dark and sinister, with menacing vocals, before sudden traditional rhythms and a heavenly choir enter to smooth the song's jagged corners.
The Balance Between Experiment & Pop
A key balancing act of Lux involves navigating the gap between radical experimentation and broad appeal. This is little coincidence that it has become her highest-charting release to break into the Top 5 of key markets: at its core a suite of truly undeniable pop songs. A song sung primarily in English swells around a refrain that seems to collect more and more nagging melodies while it spirals skyward. That trick gets echoed by a different expansive track that grows and constricts, intertwining multiple melodies as a complex tapestry.
- A waltz-like song charms with its playful, Disney-adjacent flair and an anthemic hook.
- In its words, it aligns the cultural impact of other heartbreak songs, lambasting a former lover labeled an "psychological bully".
- Across the album, the vocals have a painted-on edge, like a storybook figure hiding a blade: "Gold medal in acting like a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Feast for the Soul
Lux is popular music on a maximalist scale, an ambitious grasp for high artistry amid of looming artificial blankness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of glorious transcendence, creating an over-the-top drama that skillfully controls its own built-in ridiculousness. This is an abundant well of buried gems that requires time to completely mine but doesn't seem like a chore. While some major pop albums of the year seemed like a meager meal, this record is a lavish feast where the guests around the table, some tipsy on sacred wine, flit between conversations about ancient saints, the galvanizing feeling of soul-shattering sadness, and common stories about hopeless partners. In essence, it's a contemporary musical from music's truly endlessly creative practitioner.
