On the surface, this work might appear closer to a challenging scholarly challenge than the latest pop album from an artist who just had a previous hit was a collaboration with a global pop star. Broken into 4 different movements and sung in thirteen tongues, we have a head-spinning orchestral-influenced opus investigating female mystique, spiritual transcendence, and physical transformation, frequently by way of the prism of different saintly figures. The dissolution of a love affair—a theme treated with raw openness elsewhere—is shot heavenward here, buoyed by the lush presence of a major symphony orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning composer among a long list of collaborators. Its sheer ambition alone renders the work of other artists look rather laughable.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
The fact that this album succeeds in transcend dry intellectual posturing is nothing short of miraculous, and sole credit belonging to the artist. Although this is not the first time album to alchemize the past with modern styles, the scale are much greater on Lux, with the balancing act far more pronounced. What really elevates this fourth release, beyond its complex melodies, dense compositions, and engrained drama, is an essential sense of playfulness. Much like the legendary Björk during her height, you find a wondrous sense to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you up in its tornado. Even when she's breaking hearts apart, the listener nevertheless desire to be right there for the journey.
A Prime Moment of Exuberance
That playful spirit comes forth clearly during the stirring piano-led song about a saint. It luxuriates in a string-drenched whirlpool over several minutes. Then, everything drops away, and there's a spontaneous laugh and a declaration prior to a hilariously exaggerated string surge crashes in with cartoonish force. The track immediately shifts to the frenetic single driven by racing strings, an imposing choral group, and a surprise appearance from the artist Björk.
"The magic with Lux lies in you never exactly know—nor wish to know—where it will go next."
Almost each song concludes at a totally distinct point from where it started. A track explores the transient nature of fame with a featherlight orchestration only to collapsing into electronic cacophony. Another, a song echoing her previous rhythmic work begins out dark and sinister, featuring menacing vocals, before fluttering traditional rhythms and a heavenly choir arrive to smooth its rough edges.
The Balance Between Art and Pop
A key balancing act of Lux is straddling the gap between bold experimentation and broad appeal. This is little coincidence that it has achieved her first release to crack the upper reaches of major charts: its heart contains a collection of utterly undeniable hits. One track sung entirely in English swells around a refrain that seems to collect more and more nagging hooks as it spins skyward. That trick is echoed on a different expansive track that expands and contracts, weaving multiple tunes like an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like number charms via its jaunty, theatrical drama and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it aligns with cultural impact of contemporary heartbreak anthems, eviscerating a former lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout the album, the singing have a painted-on edge, akin to a fairy-tale figure concealing a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a scoundrel / You have won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Feast for the Soul
This album is popular music on a maximalist scale, a hungry grasp for capital-A Art in an era of looming artificial sameness. It rejects solipsism for glorious transcendence, creating a dramatic drama that masterfully manages its built-in ridiculousness. It is a deep source of buried gems that requires time to fully mine but never feels like a chore. Where other major releases of the year felt like a meager scraps, Lux offers a lavish banquet where the characters around the table, perhaps intoxicated on sacred drink, flutter between discussions about ancient saints, the profound feeling of heartbreaking grief, and shared gossip about hopeless men. It is a contemporary theatrical production from pop's truly restlessly creative visionary.
