At first glance, this album might appear closer to an arduous scholarly quiz rather than a new popular music album from an artist whose previous hit featured a global pop icon. Broken across four different parts and voiced in 13 languages, this is a breathtaking classical-tinged work investigating female mystery, spiritual ascent, and physical change, often by way of the perspective of various saintly figures. The dissolution of a romance—a theme handled with grounded openness elsewhere—is launched heavenward here, supported by the constant sound of a major orchestra and contributions from an award-winning songwriter among a vast roll call of contributors. Its sheer daring by itself makes the efforts of other artists look quite modest.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
The fact that Lux manages to transcend overly intellectual posturing feels almost miraculous, and full praise belonging to Rosalía. While it's not the first time album to alchemize historical sounds and modern styles, the scale feel far greater here, with the tightrope walk far more dramatic. What truly raises her fourth album, beyond its complex tunes, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, proves to be a core sense of fun. Much like the iconic Björk at her peak, you find a wondrous sense to Rosalía's voice which sweeps you up in its tornado. When she is breaking hearts apart, you nevertheless desire to stay alongside her for the ride.
A Prime Moment of Joy
This exuberant energy shines clearly during a stunning Italian song about a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool over more than four minutes. Then, everything falls away, to reveal there's a spontaneous laugh followed by a declaration before a comically exaggerated orchestral crescendo crashes down like comedic force. The track then segues into the wild track featuring racing strings, an imposing choral group, and a surprise appearance from none other than Björk.
"The charm with this album is that the listener never quite know—or even want to know—where it is going to next."
Almost each song finishes at a completely distinct place than how it started. A track examines the transient trappings of fame with a featherlight orchestration before disintegrating into electronic cacophony. Another, a cut echoing her earlier trap-infused work starts out moody and brooding, with prowling beats, before sudden flamenco rhythms and an angelic choir arrive to soften the song's jagged corners.
The Bridge Between Experiment and Accessibility
A key achievement on Lux involves navigating the line between bold experimentation and broad accessibility. It is no surprise that the album has achieved the artist's first work to crack the Top 5 of key markets: its heart contains a suite of truly catchy hits. A song sung entirely in English builds on a chorus that feels to collect increasingly nagging melodies while it spins upward. This feat gets repeated by another expansive ballad that expands and constricts, intertwining layered tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like number charms with its jaunty, Disney-adjacent flair and a chant-along chorus.
- Lyrically, it aligns with cultural honesty of contemporary heartbreak anthems, eviscerating a former lover described as an "psychological terrorist".
- Across these tracks, the singing have a painted-on edge, akin to a storybook figure concealing a knife: "Top prize in being a motherfucker / You've won the trophy of letdown."
An Opulent Banquet for the Soul
This album is pop on a grand scale, an ambitious grasp for capital-A Art in an era of looming AI-generated sameness. It rejects solipsism for sublime elevation, crafting a dramatic drama that masterfully controls its own inherent excess. It is a deep source of hidden treasure that takes time to fully mine but never feels like a chore. While some big releases of 2025 felt like a meager scraps, Lux offers a sumptuous banquet at which the guests at it, some intoxicated on sacred drink, flutter between conversations about ancient figures, the profound feeling of soul-shattering sadness, and shared stories about useless men. In essence, it's a modern-day theatrical production from music's most endlessly inventive visionary.
