At first glance, this album may look more like a challenging university examination rather than the latest popular music record by an artist whose last single featured an international pop star. Broken into 4 different parts and performed in thirteen languages, we have a dizzying classical-tinged work investigating feminine mystique, spiritual transcendence, and bodily change, often via the perspective of different saintly figures. The end of a relationship—a theme treated with grounded honesty on another major 2025 album—soars skyward on this record, buoyed by the constant presence of a full orchestra and contributions from an award-winning composer within an extensive roll call of collaborators. The pure audacity by itself makes the efforts of contemporary artists seem rather small.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
That this album succeeds in transcend overly intellectual posturing is almost a miracle, and sole credit going to the artist. Although this is not the first time album to alchemize historical sounds and modern styles, its ambitions are far higher on Lux, and the tightrope walk more dramatic. The element that really raises this fourth release, beyond its multilayered tunes, dense compositions, and inherent theatricality, is an essential spirit of joy. Similar to the legendary Björk during her peak, you find a wondrous sense to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you up in its whirlwind. Even when she is breaking your heart in two, the listener still desire to be alongside her for the journey.
A Prime Moment of Exuberance
That playful spirit comes forth clearly on a stunning Italian ballad about a saint. It bathes in a string-drenched whirlpool for several minutes. Suddenly, all the music drops silent, to reveal there's a gleeful laugh followed by a comment before a comically over-the-top string crescendo thuds in like comedic impact. The track then shifts into the frenetic single driven by galloping strings, a powerful choral group, and a cameo appearance from the artist herself.
"The charm of Lux lies in the listener never quite understand—nor wish to know—where it is going next."
Almost each song ends at a totally distinct point than where it started. One moment explores the transient trappings of celebrity over a featherlight orchestration before disintegrating into digital chaos. Elsewhere, a cut that recalls the artist's previous trap-infused work starts off moody and brooding, with menacing vocals, until fluttering traditional rhythms and an angelic chorus enter to soften its rough edges.
The Balance Of Art and Accessibility
Another crucial achievement of Lux is navigating the gap of radical innovation and broad appeal. This is little coincidence that the album has achieved the artist's first release to crack the Top 5 of key markets: its heart contains a collection of truly undeniable hits. One track sung entirely in the English language builds around a chorus that seems to collect more and more infectious melodies while it spins skyward. This feat is echoed by a different expansive track that expands and contracts, intertwining multiple melodies as an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like song seduces via its jaunty, theatrical drama and a chant-along chorus.
- Lyrically, it shares with cultural honesty of contemporary breakup songs, eviscerating an ex- partner described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout the album, the singing carry a sharp smile, like a fairy-tale character concealing a blade: "Top prize in acting like a motherfucker / You have the podium of disappointment."
A Maximalist Feast for the Soul
This album is pop on a grand scale, a hungry reach for high artistry in an era of impending artificial sameness. It eschews solipsism in favor of sublime elevation, creating a dramatic spectacle that masterfully manages its inherent ridiculousness. It is an abundant source of buried gems that takes patience to fully mine but doesn't seem like hard work. Where some major releases of 2025 felt like a meager scraps, Lux offers a lavish feast where the characters at it, some intoxicated on holy drink, flit from conversations about ancient figures, the profound sensation of heartbreaking grief, and shared stories about useless men. In essence, it's a modern-day musical from pop's most restlessly inventive practitioner.
