At first glance, Lux might appear more like an arduous scholarly examination than the latest popular music project from a musician whose previous single was a collaboration with an international pop star. Split across four different parts and performed in 13 languages, we have a dizzying classical-tinged work that delves into feminine mystique, spiritual ascent, and physical transformation, often through the prism of different women saints. The end of a romance—a topic treated with raw openness elsewhere—soars skyward here, buoyed by the constant presence of a full orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter within an extensive roll call of collaborators. Its sheer audacity alone renders the efforts of contemporary pop stars appear quite laughable.
Rising Above Scholarly Exercise
That this album manages to avoid dry academic posturing feels nothing short of miraculous, and full praise belonging to Rosalía. Although this is not the first time album to fuse the past and the present, its stakes are much higher here, and the tightrope walk far more dramatic. What truly raises this fourth release, beyond its complex tunes, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, is a core spirit of playfulness. Similar to the legendary Björk at her peak, there is a wondrous sense to Rosalía's singing that pulls the listener up in its tornado. Even when she is tearing hearts apart, you still want to stay alongside her for the journey.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
This exuberant energy comes forth brightly during the stirring piano-led song inspired by a saint. It bathes in a sorrowful whirlpool for more than four minutes. Then, everything drops silent, and there's a spontaneous giggle followed by a comment before a comically exaggerated orchestral surge crashes in with cartoonish impact. The song then segues to the frenetic track featuring galloping orchestration, an imposing choir, and a cameo appearance from none other than Björk.
"The charm with Lux is that you never exactly understand—or even wish to predict—where it is going next."
Almost each track concludes at a totally different point from how it started. A track examines the fleeting nature of celebrity over a delicate orchestration before collapsing in electronic chaos. Another, a song that recalls her previous rhythmic style starts off dark and brooding, with menacing vocals, before sudden traditional rhythms and an angelic choir enter to smooth the song's jagged edges.
The Bridge Between Experiment & Accessibility
A key balancing act on Lux is navigating the gap between radical experimentation and mainstream appeal. It is little surprise that it has achieved her first release to crack the upper reaches of major charts: its heart contains a collection of utterly catchy pop songs. One track sung entirely in the English language builds on a chorus that feels to collect more and more nagging hooks as it spins skyward. That trick gets repeated on another powerful ballad that expands and constricts, intertwining multiple tunes like an intricate weave.
- A waltz-like number seduces with its playful, Disney-adjacent flair and a chant-along chorus.
- Lyrically, it shares the pop culture impact of contemporary heartbreak anthems, lambasting an ex- lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout the album, the singing have a sharp smile, akin to a fairy-tale figure hiding a blade: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You have the podium of letdown."
An Opulent Feast for the Ears
This album represents pop on a maximalist scale, an ambitious reach for high Art in an era of looming AI-generated blankness. It eschews self-absorption for glorious elevation, creating a dramatic drama that masterfully controls its own built-in excess. This is an abundant source of buried gems that requires patience to fully explore but never feels like hard work. While some big releases of 2025 felt like feasting on meal, this record offers a sumptuous feast at which the guests around the table, perhaps tipsy on sacred wine, flit between discussions about historical figures, the galvanizing feeling of heartbreaking grief, and common stories about useless men. It is a contemporary musical from pop's truly restlessly inventive visionary.
