On the surface, this album may look more like a difficult university examination rather than the latest popular music record by an artist whose last single was a collaboration with a global pop icon. Broken into four distinct sections and voiced in thirteen tongues, we have a dizzying symphonic work that delves into feminine mystique, religious ascent, and physical change, frequently via the prism of different women saints. The end of a relationship—a theme treated with raw honesty on another major 2025 album—is shot skyward on this record, buoyed by the constant presence of a major symphony orchestra and work from an award-winning composer among a long list of collaborators. The pure daring by itself renders the work of contemporary pop stars look rather modest.
Rising Above Academic Exercise
The fact that Lux succeeds in avoid overly academic chin-stroking is nearly miraculous, with sole credit belonging to Rosalía. While it's not the first time album to alchemize the past and the present, the stakes are far greater here, with the tightrope walk more pronounced. What really raises this fourth release, beyond its complex tunes, dense compositions, and inherent drama, is a core spirit of fun. Much like the iconic Björk at her peak, you find a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing that pulls you up in its tornado. When she's breaking hearts in two, the listener nevertheless want to be right there through the journey.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
That exuberant energy shines clearly during the stunning Italian song inspired by Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool over more than four moments. Suddenly, everything drops silent, to reveal there's a gleeful giggle and a declaration before a comically exaggerated orchestral crescendo thuds down with cartoonish force. The song then segues to the frenetic single featuring galloping orchestration, a powerful choir, and a surprise appearance from the artist herself.
"The charm of this album lies in the listener never quite know—or even want to predict—where it will go to next."
Nearly each track concludes at a totally different place from how it began. A track examines the fleeting trappings of celebrity over a featherlight orchestration only to collapsing into digital cacophony. Another, a song that recalls her earlier rhythmic work starts out dark and sinister, with menacing beats, before fluttering flamenco handclaps and a heavenly chorus arrive to smooth the song's rough corners.
The Bridge Between Experiment & Accessibility
A key achievement on Lux involves straddling the line of radical innovation and broad appeal. It is no coincidence that the album has achieved her first release to crack the Top 5 of key markets: at its core a suite of utterly catchy pop songs. A song performed primarily in English builds around a refrain that seems to collect more and more infectious hooks while it spirals skyward. This trick is echoed by another expansive track that expands and contracts, intertwining multiple tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like song charms with its playful, Disney-adjacent flair and a chant-along hook.
- Lyrically, it shares with cultural impact of contemporary breakup songs, eviscerating an ex- lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Across these tracks, the singing carry a painted-on smile, akin to a fairy-tale character concealing a blade: "Top prize in being a motherfucker / You have the podium of letdown."
An Opulent Banquet for the Ears
This album is pop on a grand level, an ambitious reach for high artistry in an era of looming AI-generated blankness. It rejects self-absorption for glorious transcendence, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully manages its own inherent excess. It is a deep source of buried treasure that takes patience to completely mine but doesn't feels like a chore. While some big releases of 2025 seemed like feasting on meal, Lux is a lavish feast where the characters at the table, some tipsy on holy drink, flutter from discussions about ancient saints, the profound feeling of heartbreaking sadness, and shared gossip about useless men. In essence, it's a modern-day theatrical production from pop's truly endlessly creative visionary.
