At first glance, this work may look more like an arduous university examination rather than the latest popular music project from an artist whose last hit was a collaboration with an international pop star. Split into four different sections and sung in thirteen languages, we have a head-spinning classical-tinged opus that delves into female mystery, spiritual transcendence, and physical transformation, frequently through the lens of different female saints. The dissolution of a romance—a theme handled with grounded openness elsewhere—is shot heavenward here, buoyed by the lush presence of a full symphony orchestra and contributions from an award-winning composer among a long roll call of collaborators. Its sheer daring alone makes the work of other pop stars appear rather modest.
Rising Above Academic Pretense
That this album succeeds in avoid overly intellectual posturing feels nearly a miracle, with sole credit belonging to Rosalía. While it's not the first time project to blend the past with the present, the scale are far greater here, with the balancing act more precarious. What really raises this fourth release, beyond its complex melodies, rich compositions, and inherent theatricality, proves to be a core spirit of fun. Much like the iconic Björk during her height, there is a captivating quality to the vocalist's singing which sweeps the listener into its tornado. When she is tearing hearts apart, you still want to be alongside her for the ride.
A Signature Moment of Exuberance
This playful spirit comes forth brightly on the stunning Italian ballad inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a string-drenched melancholy over several minutes. Suddenly, everything drops away, and we hear a gleeful giggle followed by a comment before a hilariously over-the-top orchestral crescendo crashes down like cartoonish impact. The song then segues to the wild single featuring racing strings, an imposing choir, and a surprise appearance from none other than Björk.
"The magic of this album is that the listener never quite know—nor want to predict—what you is going next."
Nearly each track concludes at a completely distinct point than where it began. One moment explores the fleeting trappings of celebrity over a delicate orchestration before collapsing in electronic chaos. Elsewhere, a song echoing her earlier rhythmic work starts off dark and brooding, with menacing vocals, until sudden flamenco handclaps and an angelic choir enter to soften its rough corners.
The Balance Between Experiment & Accessibility
A key balancing act on the album is straddling the line of radical experimentation and broad accessibility. It is little coincidence that the album has become her highest-charting work to crack the upper reaches of major charts: its heart contains a suite of utterly catchy hits. One track performed primarily in the English language builds around a chorus that feels to gather increasingly infectious hooks as it spins skyward. That feat is repeated on a different powerful ballad that expands and constricts, weaving multiple melodies as an intricate weave.
- A dance-infused number charms with its jaunty, Disney-adjacent drama and an anthemic chorus.
- In its words, it aligns with pop culture impact of contemporary heartbreak anthems, eviscerating an ex- partner labeled an "emotional bully".
- Throughout these tracks, the vocals have a sharp smile, akin to a storybook figure concealing a blade: "Gold medal in being a motherfucker / You've the podium of disappointment."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Ears
Lux is pop on a grand level, a hungry grasp for high artistry in an era of looming artificial blankness. It rejects self-absorption for sublime transcendence, creating an over-the-top drama that skillfully controls its own inherent excess. This is an abundant source of hidden treasure that requires time to completely mine but doesn't feels like a chore. While some big releases of 2025 seemed like a meager scraps, this record is a lavish banquet at which the guests around it, some intoxicated on holy drink, flit between conversations about historical saints, the profound feeling of soul-shattering sadness, and common gossip about useless men. In essence, it's a contemporary musical from pop's most endlessly inventive practitioner.
