Initially, this album might appear closer to an arduous scholarly examination than the latest pop record from an artist who just had a previous single featured an international K-pop star. Split across 4 distinct sections and performed in 13 languages, we have a dizzying symphonic work investigating female mystique, religious ascent, and corporal change, often via the lens of different female saints. The end of a love affair—a theme handled with raw openness on another major 2025 album—soars heavenward on this record, buoyed by the lush presence of a full orchestra and input from an award-winning songwriter among an extensive list of contributors. Its sheer audacity alone renders the work of contemporary artists look rather laughable.
Transcending Scholarly Exercise
The fact that Lux manages to escape overly academic chin-stroking is nearly miraculous, and sole praise belonging to the artist. While this is not the first time album to fuse the past and modern styles, its ambitions feel far higher on Lux, and the tightrope walk far more dramatic. What truly elevates her fourth album, outside of its multilayered melodies, rich compositions, and inherent drama, proves to be an essential spirit of fun. Much like the iconic Björk during her peak, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you into its whirlwind. When she is tearing your heart apart, you still desire to stay alongside her through the ride.
A Signature Moment of Exuberance
That playful energy shines brightly on a stirring piano-led song about Saint Clare. It bathes in a sorrowful whirlpool for several moments. Suddenly, everything falls silent, to reveal we hear a spontaneous giggle and a comment prior to a hilariously over-the-top string crescendo thuds down with comedic impact. The song then segues to the frenetic single featuring galloping orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a surprise role from none other than Björk.
"The magic of this album is that you rarely quite understand—nor want to predict—what it is going next."
Nearly every song finishes in a totally different point than how it began. One moment explores the fleeting trappings of celebrity with a featherlight orchestration before disintegrating in electronic chaos. Another, a song that recalls her previous trap-infused style starts off dark and brooding, featuring menacing beats, until fluttering flamenco rhythms and an angelic chorus enter to smooth its jagged edges.
The Bridge Of Art & Accessibility
A key balancing act of the album is navigating the gap of bold innovation and broad appeal. It is little coincidence that it has achieved the artist's first work to break into the upper reaches of major charts: at its core a suite of truly undeniable pop songs. A song sung primarily in English builds around a refrain that seems to collect more and more infectious hooks as it spirals upward. This feat is echoed by a different expansive track that grows and constricts, intertwining layered tunes like a complex tapestry.
- A waltz-like song charms with its jaunty, theatrical drama and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it shares with cultural honesty of contemporary breakup songs, eviscerating an ex- lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Across these tracks, the singing carry a sharp smile, like a fairy-tale character hiding a blade: "Top prize in acting like a scoundrel / You have won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
Lux is pop on a grand level, a hungry reach for high Art in an era of looming AI-generated blankness. It rejects self-absorption in favor of glorious transcendence, creating a dramatic drama that masterfully manages its own built-in ridiculousness. It is an abundant source of hidden gems that takes time to completely explore but never feels like hard work. While other major releases of 2025 felt like feasting on scraps, this record offers a sumptuous feast at which the guests around it, perhaps tipsy on holy drink, flit between conversations about historical figures, the galvanizing feeling of soul-shattering grief, and shared gossip about useless men. It is a contemporary theatrical production from pop's truly endlessly creative visionary.
