On the surface, Lux could seem closer to a difficult university quiz than a new popular music record from a musician whose last hit featured a global K-pop star. Divided across 4 different sections and performed in 13 tongues, we have a dizzying classical-tinged opus investigating feminine mystique, religious ascent, and physical change, frequently by way of the perspective of different saintly figures. The dissolution of a relationship—a theme treated with grounded openness elsewhere—soars upwards on this record, carried by the constant presence of a major orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning composer within an extensive list of contributors. Its sheer audacity by itself renders the efforts of contemporary artists look rather modest.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
The fact that Lux manages to escape dry intellectual posturing is nothing short of miraculous, and complete credit belonging to Rosalía. While it's not her first project to blend the past with modern styles, the stakes are much higher on Lux, and the balancing act far more dramatic. The element that really raises this fourth release, outside of its multilayered melodies, dense compositions, and inherent drama, is a core spirit of joy. Much like the legendary artist during her height, you find a captivating sense to Rosalía's singing that pulls the listener up in its tornado. Even when she's breaking hearts apart, the listener nevertheless want to be alongside her through the ride.
A Signature Example of Exuberance
That exuberant energy shines brightly on the stirring piano-led ballad inspired by a saint. It bathes in a string-drenched melancholy over several minutes. Then, everything drops away, and we hear a spontaneous laugh followed by a comment before a comically exaggerated orchestral surge crashes down like comedic force. The song then segues into the wild track driven by racing orchestration, an imposing choir, and a surprise role from none other than herself.
"The magic with Lux is that the listener never exactly know—nor want to predict—what it is going to next."
Almost each track concludes in a totally different point than where it began. One moment explores the transient trappings of fame with a featherlight symphony before disintegrating in digital cacophony. Elsewhere, a cut that recalls the artist's earlier trap-infused work begins off dark and brooding, with menacing beats, until sudden flamenco rhythms and an angelic choir arrive to smooth its jagged edges.
The Balance Between Art & Pop
Another crucial balancing act on Lux is navigating the line between radical experimentation and broad appeal. It is no surprise that the album has become the artist's highest-charting work to crack the upper reaches of major charts: at its core a collection of truly catchy pop songs. A song sung entirely in the English language builds on a refrain that feels to collect increasingly infectious hooks as it spirals upward. That feat gets repeated by another powerful ballad that expands and contracts, intertwining layered melodies like a complex tapestry.
- A dance-infused number charms with its playful, Disney-adjacent drama and an anthemic chorus.
- In its words, it shares with pop culture impact of contemporary heartbreak songs, lambasting an ex- partner described as an "emotional terrorist".
- Across these tracks, the singing carry a painted-on edge, like a fairy-tale character hiding a knife: "Gold medal in being a scoundrel / You've the podium of disappointment."
An Opulent Banquet for the Ears
This album is popular music on a maximalist level, an ambitious grasp for capital-A Art in an era of looming AI-generated sameness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of sublime transcendence, crafting an over-the-top drama that masterfully manages its inherent excess. It is a deep well of hidden gems that requires time to fully mine but never seem like a chore. Where some big releases of 2025 felt like feasting on meal, this record offers a lavish banquet where the characters around the table, perhaps intoxicated on holy wine, flit from conversations about ancient figures, the profound feeling of heartbreaking sadness, and common stories about useless men. It is a contemporary theatrical production from music's most restlessly creative practitioner.
