On the surface, Lux could seem more like an arduous scholarly challenge than the latest popular music project from a musician whose last single was a collaboration with an international K-pop star. Divided into four separate sections and voiced in thirteen tongues, it is a head-spinning orchestral-influenced opus investigating feminine mystique, religious transcendence, and physical change, frequently via the lens of various female saints. The dissolution of a romance—a theme handled with grounded honesty elsewhere—soars upwards here, supported by the lush presence of a full orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning composer among a vast roll call of contributors. Its sheer ambition alone renders the efforts of contemporary artists look quite modest.
Rising Above Academic Pretense
That this album manages to avoid overly intellectual posturing is nothing short of miraculous, with full credit going to the artist. Although this is not her first project to blend the past with modern styles, its scale feel far greater on Lux, with the balancing act far more precarious. The element that truly elevates this fourth release, beyond its multilayered melodies, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, is an essential sense of fun. Similar to the iconic artist at her height, you find a captivating quality to Rosalía's voice that pulls you up in its whirlwind. Even when she is breaking hearts apart, you nevertheless want to stay right there through the ride.
A Prime Moment of Exuberance
This exuberant energy shines brightly during a stirring Italian ballad about a saint. It bathes in a sorrowful melancholy for several minutes. Suddenly, everything drops silent, to reveal we hear a spontaneous laugh followed by a comment before a comically over-the-top orchestral surge thuds in like comedic force. The track immediately shifts to the frenetic track driven by racing orchestration, a powerful choir, and a surprise role from none other than herself.
"The charm with Lux is that you rarely quite understand—or even wish to know—where it is going next."
Almost each song finishes at a completely different point than how it started. A track explores the fleeting trappings of celebrity with a delicate orchestration before disintegrating into electronic chaos. Another, a song that recalls the artist's earlier rhythmic work starts out dark and brooding, with prowling beats, before fluttering flamenco handclaps and a heavenly choir arrive to soften its rough edges.
The Bridge Between Experiment & Pop
Another crucial balancing act on Lux is navigating the gap of radical innovation and broad accessibility. It is little surprise that it has become the artist's first release to break into the Top 5 of major charts: at its core a collection of utterly undeniable hits. One track sung primarily in English builds around a chorus that seems to collect more and more infectious melodies as it spirals skyward. That trick is echoed on a different expansive track that grows and contracts, intertwining layered melodies as an intricate weave.
- A dance-infused number seduces via its playful, Disney-adjacent drama and a chant-along hook.
- In its words, it aligns the cultural impact of contemporary breakup songs, lambasting a former partner described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout the album, the vocals have a sharp smile, akin to a fairy-tale figure concealing a blade: "Top prize in acting like a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Banquet for the Ears
Lux represents popular music on a grand scale, an ambitious grasp for capital-A Art amid of impending AI-generated blankness. It eschews self-absorption for sublime transcendence, creating an over-the-top drama that masterfully manages its built-in ridiculousness. This is a deep source of hidden treasure that takes patience to completely explore but never feels like hard work. While other major pop albums of 2025 felt like a meager scraps, this record offers a sumptuous feast where the guests around the table, perhaps tipsy on holy wine, flutter from conversations about historical saints, the galvanizing feeling of heartbreaking sadness, and shared gossip about hopeless men. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from pop's most endlessly inventive practitioner.
