At first glance, this album might appear more like a difficult academic examination than a new pop project by a musician whose previous hit was a collaboration with a global K-pop icon. Split into 4 distinct sections and sung in 13 languages, it is a dizzying symphonic opus that delves into feminine mystique, spiritual ascent, and bodily transformation, often through the lens of different women saints. The end of a love affair—a topic treated with raw openness elsewhere—is launched upwards here, supported by the lush presence of a full orchestra and work from a Pulitzer-winning composer within an extensive list of contributors. The pure daring by itself renders the efforts of other artists look quite modest.
Rising Above Academic Exercise
The fact that this album succeeds in escape overly academic chin-stroking feels nearly a miracle, with complete praise belonging to Rosalía. Although this is not her first album to blend the past with modern styles, the ambitions feel much higher here, with the tightrope walk more pronounced. The element that truly elevates her fourth album, beyond its complex melodies, dense arrangements, and engrained drama, is an essential spirit of playfulness. Similar to the legendary artist during her height, you find a wondrous sense to Rosalía's singing that pulls the listener up in its whirlwind. When she is breaking your heart in two, you nevertheless want to stay alongside her for the ride.
A Signature Example of Exuberance
This playful energy comes forth clearly during the stirring Italian song inspired by a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool over more than four minutes. Suddenly, everything falls silent, to reveal we hear a gleeful giggle followed by a comment prior to a comically exaggerated orchestral surge crashes down with comedic force. The song then segues to the wild single featuring galloping strings, an imposing choral group, and a cameo role from the artist herself.
"The magic of this album is that you rarely exactly understand—or even want to know—what you will go to next."
Almost each track ends at a completely different place than how it started. A track examines the fleeting nature of fame over a delicate symphony before collapsing into electronic chaos. Another, a song that recalls the artist's previous rhythmic style begins off moody and brooding, featuring menacing vocals, until fluttering flamenco rhythms and an angelic choir arrive to smooth the song's jagged corners.
The Balance Between Experiment & Pop
Another crucial achievement of the album is navigating the line between radical innovation and broad appeal. This is no surprise that it has become the artist's first release to crack the upper reaches of major charts: its heart contains a collection of truly catchy pop songs. A song performed entirely in the English language builds on a chorus that feels to gather increasingly nagging hooks while it spirals skyward. That trick is echoed on another expansive ballad that grows and contracts, intertwining layered tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused number charms with its playful, Disney-adjacent drama and an anthemic hook.
- In its words, it shares the pop culture impact of contemporary heartbreak anthems, lambasting an ex- partner described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout the album, the singing have a painted-on edge, akin to a storybook character hiding a blade: "Gold medal in acting like a scoundrel / You have won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Ears
This album represents popular music on a maximalist scale, an ambitious reach for high artistry amid of impending AI-generated blankness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of glorious elevation, crafting an over-the-top spectacle that masterfully controls its built-in ridiculousness. It is a deep source of buried treasure that takes time to completely mine but never seem like hard work. While some major pop albums of 2025 felt like a meager scraps, Lux is a sumptuous banquet at which the guests at it, some intoxicated on holy wine, flit from conversations about historical saints, the profound feeling of heartbreaking sadness, and common gossip about useless partners. In essence, it's a modern-day musical from music's most restlessly creative practitioner.
