On the surface, this work may look more like an arduous university examination than a new popular music record by a musician who just had a previous hit was a collaboration with a global pop icon. Split into four separate sections and sung in 13 languages, we have a breathtaking symphonic opus investigating female mystery, spiritual transcendence, and physical transformation, frequently through the lens of various saintly figures. The dissolution of a romance—a topic handled with raw openness on another major 2025 album—is shot upwards here, supported by the constant sound of a major symphony orchestra and input from an award-winning composer within a long roll call of contributors. Its sheer ambition by itself makes the efforts of contemporary artists look quite laughable.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
That Lux succeeds in avoid overly academic posturing is nearly a miracle, with complete credit going to Rosalía. Although it's not the first time album to alchemize historical sounds and the present, its ambitions are much greater on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more precarious. The element that truly raises this fourth album, beyond its complex melodies, dense compositions, and engrained drama, proves to be an essential sense of fun. Much like the legendary Björk at her height, you find a captivating sense to Rosalía's voice which sweeps the listener up in its whirlwind. Even when she is tearing hearts apart, you nevertheless desire to stay right there for the ride.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
That playful energy shines clearly on a stunning Italian ballad about Saint Clare. It bathes in a sorrowful melancholy over several moments. Suddenly, all the music falls away, to reveal we hear a spontaneous giggle and a declaration prior to a hilariously over-the-top string surge thuds down with cartoonish impact. The track immediately shifts into the frenetic track featuring racing strings, a powerful choir, and a surprise role from the artist Björk.
"The magic of this album lies in you never quite understand—nor wish to know—where you is going to next."
Almost each song ends in a totally different point than how it began. One moment explores the transient trappings of fame with a featherlight orchestration only to disintegrating into electronic chaos. Another, a cut that recalls her earlier rhythmic work starts out moody and sinister, with prowling vocals, before fluttering traditional rhythms and an angelic choir arrive to smooth the song's jagged edges.
The Balance Of Art and Accessibility
Another crucial balancing act of Lux involves navigating the gap between bold experimentation and mainstream accessibility. This is no surprise that the album has achieved her highest-charting release to break into the upper reaches of major markets: at its core a suite of truly catchy hits. One track performed primarily in the English language swells on a chorus that feels to collect increasingly infectious hooks while it spins skyward. This feat is echoed by a different powerful track that grows and contracts, weaving multiple melodies as a complex weave.
- A waltz-like number charms with its jaunty, Disney-adjacent flair and a chant-along chorus.
- Lyrically, it shares the pop culture honesty of contemporary breakup anthems, eviscerating a former partner described as an "psychological terrorist".
- Throughout these tracks, the singing carry a painted-on smile, akin to a fairy-tale character concealing a knife: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You've the podium of letdown."
An Opulent Feast for the Ears
This album is popular music on a maximalist level, an ambitious grasp for high artistry in an era of impending AI-generated blankness. It rejects solipsism in favor of glorious transcendence, creating an over-the-top spectacle that skillfully manages its inherent excess. This is an abundant well of hidden gems that takes time to fully explore but never feels like a chore. Where other major releases of the year felt like feasting on meal, Lux is a sumptuous banquet at which the characters around it, some tipsy on sacred drink, flit from discussions about ancient figures, the galvanizing sensation of soul-shattering sadness, and shared stories about useless men. It is a contemporary musical from pop's truly endlessly inventive practitioner.
