On the surface, this album may look more like a difficult scholarly examination rather than the latest popular music project by an artist whose last single featured an international pop star. Split into four different sections and sung in thirteen languages, we have a dizzying orchestral-influenced opus investigating feminine mystery, spiritual ascent, and bodily change, frequently by way of the perspective of various female saints. The dissolution of a romance—a theme treated with raw honesty elsewhere—is launched skyward on this record, supported by the lush sound of a major orchestra and work from an award-winning songwriter within a long list of contributors. Its sheer audacity alone renders the efforts of contemporary artists look quite laughable.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
The fact that Lux manages to transcend overly academic chin-stroking is nothing short of miraculous, and sole credit going to the artist. While it's not the first time project to alchemize historical sounds with modern styles, the ambitions are much greater here, and the balancing act more precarious. What truly elevates this fourth release, outside of its multilayered tunes, dense compositions, and inherent theatricality, is a core spirit of fun. Similar to the iconic Björk at her peak, you find a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing which sweeps the listener into its whirlwind. Even when she's tearing your heart apart, you nevertheless want to stay alongside her for the ride.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
This playful energy shines clearly during a stunning piano-led song inspired by a saint. It bathes in a string-drenched whirlpool for several minutes. Then, all the music drops silent, and we hear a gleeful laugh followed by a declaration prior to a hilariously over-the-top string crescendo thuds down with cartoonish impact. The track immediately segues into the wild track driven by racing strings, an imposing choir, and a cameo role from the artist Björk.
"The charm of Lux lies in the listener rarely quite know—or even wish to know—what it will go next."
Almost each song concludes at a completely different place from how it began. One moment examines the transient nature of fame with a featherlight symphony only to collapsing into electronic cacophony. Elsewhere, a cut that recalls the artist's earlier rhythmic work starts out moody and brooding, with prowling beats, before fluttering traditional rhythms and an angelic chorus arrive to smooth its rough edges.
The Bridge Between Experiment & Accessibility
Another crucial balancing act on Lux involves navigating the gap between radical innovation and mainstream appeal. It is no coincidence that it has achieved the artist's highest-charting work to break into the upper reaches of major markets: at its core a suite of truly catchy pop songs. A song performed entirely in the English language swells around a chorus that seems to collect increasingly nagging melodies while it spirals upward. That feat is repeated on a different expansive ballad that grows and contracts, intertwining layered tunes like an intricate weave.
- A waltz-like song charms with its jaunty, theatrical flair and an anthemic chorus.
- In its words, it aligns with pop culture impact of contemporary breakup songs, eviscerating an ex- partner described as an "emotional bully".
- Throughout the album, the vocals carry a painted-on smile, like a fairy-tale character concealing a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a scoundrel / You have the podium of disappointment."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Ears
Lux represents pop on a maximalist level, an ambitious reach for high artistry amid of looming AI-generated blankness. It eschews solipsism in favor of sublime elevation, creating an over-the-top drama that masterfully manages its own inherent excess. It is a deep source of buried gems that takes time to fully explore but doesn't seem like a chore. Where some major releases of 2025 felt like a meager meal, this record offers a sumptuous banquet at which the guests at the table, perhaps intoxicated on sacred drink, flit from conversations about ancient figures, the profound sensation of heartbreaking sadness, and common stories about hopeless men. It is a contemporary theatrical production from music's truly restlessly creative visionary.
