On the surface, this album may look closer to a difficult university challenge than the latest popular music album by an artist whose last hit was a collaboration with an international pop star. Split into four distinct parts and performed in 13 tongues, this is a breathtaking symphonic opus exploring female mystery, spiritual transcendence, and corporal change, frequently by way of the lens of different female saints. The end of a relationship—a theme treated with grounded honesty elsewhere—is shot upwards on this record, carried by the constant presence of a full orchestra and work from an award-winning songwriter among a vast list of contributors. The pure daring by itself renders the work of contemporary artists appear quite laughable.
Rising Above Scholarly Exercise
The fact that Lux succeeds in transcend dry academic chin-stroking feels nothing short of a miracle, with complete credit going to Rosalía. Although it's not the first time album to fuse historical sounds with the present, its stakes feel much higher on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more precarious. The element that truly raises her fourth release, outside of its multilayered tunes, rich compositions, and inherent theatricality, is an essential spirit of joy. Similar to the legendary Björk during her height, you find a wondrous sense to Rosalía's singing which sweeps the listener into its whirlwind. Even when she is tearing hearts in two, the listener nevertheless want to be right there through the ride.
A Signature Example of Joy
This exuberant energy shines brightly on a stirring Italian song inspired by Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool over more than four moments. Then, all the music drops silent, to reveal there's a gleeful giggle and a declaration before a comically over-the-top orchestral crescendo crashes down with cartoonish impact. The song immediately segues into the frenetic track featuring racing strings, an imposing choral group, and a surprise role from none other than Björk.
"The charm with Lux is that you never quite understand—nor want to know—where it is going next."
Nearly every song concludes at a completely different point from where it began. A track examines the fleeting nature of celebrity over a featherlight orchestration before collapsing in digital cacophony. Another, a song echoing the artist's previous trap-infused work starts out moody and brooding, featuring prowling beats, until sudden flamenco handclaps and an angelic chorus arrive to smooth its jagged edges.
The Balance Between Experiment & Pop
Another crucial balancing act of Lux is straddling the line between radical experimentation and broad accessibility. It is little surprise that it has become her first release to break into the Top 5 of major markets: at its core a suite of truly catchy hits. A song performed primarily in the English language swells around a chorus that feels to collect increasingly infectious hooks while it spins skyward. That feat is echoed on a different powerful track that grows and contracts, weaving layered melodies as an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like song charms via its jaunty, theatrical drama and an anthemic hook.
- In its words, it aligns with pop culture impact of contemporary breakup songs, lambasting a former partner described as an "emotional bully".
- Throughout these tracks, the singing have a sharp smile, like a storybook figure hiding a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a motherfucker / You've the podium of letdown."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
This album represents popular music on a maximalist level, an ambitious reach for capital-A artistry amid of impending AI-generated sameness. It eschews solipsism in favor of glorious transcendence, crafting an over-the-top spectacle that masterfully manages its own built-in ridiculousness. It is a deep source of buried gems that takes time to completely explore but never seem like a chore. Where some major pop albums of 2025 seemed like a meager meal, this record offers a lavish feast at which the characters around the table, perhaps intoxicated on sacred wine, flit from conversations about ancient saints, the galvanizing sensation of heartbreaking sadness, and common gossip about useless partners. It is a modern-day theatrical production from music's truly restlessly creative practitioner.
