At first glance, Lux may look closer to a challenging university examination than a new pop record from an artist whose last hit featured a global pop icon. Broken into four different parts and voiced in thirteen tongues, this is a dizzying symphonic opus investigating female mystery, spiritual transcendence, and bodily transformation, frequently by way of the lens of various women saints. The dissolution of a romance—a topic treated with raw openness elsewhere—is shot upwards here, buoyed by the lush presence of a full symphony orchestra and input from an award-winning songwriter within a vast list of collaborators. The pure daring alone makes the efforts of contemporary artists appear rather modest.
Transcending Academic Pretense
That Lux manages to escape dry intellectual chin-stroking is almost a miracle, and sole credit going to Rosalía. Although it's not the first time project to alchemize historical sounds and modern styles, the ambitions are much greater on Lux, with the balancing act more precarious. The element that really elevates this fourth album, outside of its multilayered tunes, rich compositions, and inherent drama, is a core spirit of playfulness. Much like the iconic artist during her peak, there is a wondrous quality to the vocalist's voice that pulls the listener into its tornado. When she's breaking hearts apart, you nevertheless desire to stay right there for the journey.
A Signature Example of Exuberance
This exuberant spirit shines clearly on a stirring piano-led song inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a sorrowful whirlpool over several minutes. Then, all the music falls away, to reveal there's a gleeful giggle and a declaration prior to a comically exaggerated string surge crashes down with comedic impact. The track immediately segues into the frenetic track featuring racing orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a surprise appearance from none other than herself.
"The charm with Lux lies in you never exactly know—or even want to know—what you will go to next."
Almost each song ends in a totally different place than where it started. A track examines the fleeting nature of fame with a delicate orchestration before disintegrating into digital chaos. Another, a song that recalls the artist's previous trap-infused style begins out moody and brooding, featuring menacing vocals, until sudden flamenco handclaps and a heavenly choir enter to smooth the song's rough corners.
The Balance Of Experiment & Accessibility
A key balancing act of Lux involves straddling the line between radical innovation and mainstream appeal. This is no surprise that the album has become the artist's highest-charting release to break into the upper reaches of key markets: its heart contains a suite of truly undeniable pop songs. A song performed primarily in the English language swells around a chorus that feels to collect increasingly nagging melodies while it spirals skyward. This feat is echoed by another powerful track that grows and contracts, intertwining multiple tunes as an intricate weave.
- A waltz-like number charms via its playful, Disney-adjacent flair and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it shares the cultural impact of other heartbreak songs, lambasting a former lover labeled an "psychological terrorist".
- Throughout the album, the singing carry a sharp edge, akin to a fairy-tale character concealing a blade: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of letdown."
An Opulent Feast for the Ears
Lux is popular music on a grand scale, an ambitious reach for capital-A Art in an era of looming artificial blankness. It eschews solipsism in favor of sublime elevation, creating an over-the-top spectacle that skillfully controls its own inherent ridiculousness. It is an abundant well of hidden gems that takes time to fully mine but never feels like hard work. Where other big releases of 2025 felt like a meager meal, Lux is a sumptuous feast at which the guests at the table, perhaps intoxicated on sacred drink, flit from discussions about ancient saints, the profound feeling of soul-shattering grief, and common gossip about useless partners. It is a contemporary musical from music's truly endlessly creative practitioner.
