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On the surface, this album might appear more like an arduous academic quiz than a new pop album by an artist whose last single was a collaboration with a global pop icon. Broken into four different sections and voiced in 13 languages, we have a head-spinning classical-tinged work exploring feminine mystery, religious transcendence, and corporal transformation, often by way of the lens of different women saints. The dissolution of a romance—a theme handled with raw openness elsewhere—is shot skyward here, carried by the lush sound of a major symphony orchestra and contributions from an award-winning composer within an extensive roll call of collaborators. The pure audacity alone makes the work of contemporary artists look rather small.

Rising Above Academic Pretense

The fact that this album manages to transcend overly intellectual posturing is nothing short of miraculous, with complete praise going to the artist. Although it's not the first time album to fuse the past with modern styles, its stakes feel far greater here, with the balancing act far more pronounced. The element that really raises her fourth album, outside of its complex melodies, rich compositions, and inherent drama, is an essential spirit of playfulness. Much like the legendary artist at her height, there is a wondrous sense to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you into its tornado. Even when she is tearing your heart in two, the listener still want to be right there for the journey.

A Signature Example of Joy

That exuberant spirit comes forth clearly on the stunning Italian song about Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a sorrowful melancholy for several moments. Suddenly, all the music falls silent, and there's a spontaneous laugh and a comment before a hilariously exaggerated string surge crashes in with cartoonish force. The track then segues into the frenetic track driven by racing strings, a powerful choir, and a surprise role from none other than Björk.

"The charm with Lux is that the listener never quite understand—nor wish to predict—where you is going next."

Almost every track ends in a completely distinct place from how it began. A track explores the transient trappings of fame with a delicate orchestration only to disintegrating in electronic cacophony. Elsewhere, a cut echoing the artist's previous trap-infused style begins off moody and sinister, featuring menacing vocals, until sudden traditional handclaps and an angelic choir arrive to soften its rough edges.

The Bridge Between Experiment and Pop

Another crucial balancing act of Lux is straddling the gap of bold experimentation and mainstream appeal. This is little surprise that it has become her first work to crack the Top 5 of major charts: at its core a collection of truly catchy hits. One track sung entirely in English builds on a chorus that seems to collect increasingly infectious melodies as it spins upward. This trick is repeated on a different powerful track that grows and contracts, intertwining multiple melodies as a complex weave.

• A dance-infused song charms via its jaunty, theatrical drama and an anthemic hook.
• Lyrically, it shares the pop culture impact of contemporary breakup anthems, eviscerating a former partner labeled an "psychological bully".
• Across the album, the singing have a sharp smile, like a fairy-tale figure hiding a knife: "Top prize in being a motherfucker / You've won the trophy of disappointment."

An Opulent Feast for the Ears

This album is pop on a maximalist level, a hungry grasp for capital-A Art amid of looming AI-generated sameness. It eschews solipsism in favor of sublime transcendence, creating a dramatic drama that masterfully manages its built-in excess. This is an abundant well of hidden gems that takes patience to completely explore but never seem like a chore. While some major pop albums of the year seemed like a meager scraps, Lux offers a sumptuous feast at which the guests at it, perhaps tipsy on sacred wine, flutter from conversations about ancient saints, the profound feeling of soul-shattering grief, and common gossip about useless men. It is a contemporary musical from pop's most endlessly creative visionary.