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At first glance, Lux may look closer to a challenging academic examination rather than a new pop project by an artist who just had a last hit was a collaboration with a global K-pop star. Split into four separate sections and performed in thirteen tongues, this is a breathtaking classical-tinged opus that delves into feminine mystery, spiritual ascent, and physical transformation, frequently via the lens of different female saints. The end of a love affair—a topic handled with raw honesty on another major 2025 album—is shot upwards on this record, buoyed by the constant presence of a major symphony orchestra and work from a Pulitzer-winning composer within a long roll call of collaborators. Its sheer daring alone makes the work of other pop stars look rather laughable.

Rising Above Scholarly Pretense

The fact that this album manages to avoid dry intellectual chin-stroking is nothing short of miraculous, with full praise going to the artist. While this is not her first album to blend the past with modern styles, the ambitions feel much greater here, with the balancing act far more pronounced. What really elevates this fourth album, outside of its multilayered tunes, rich compositions, and engrained theatricality, is a core sense of playfulness. Much like the legendary artist during her peak, you find a wondrous quality to Rosalía's voice that pulls the listener up in its whirlwind. Even when she is breaking your heart in two, you still desire to be right there for the journey.

A Signature Example of Joy

That playful spirit shines brightly during a stunning Italian ballad inspired by a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool over several minutes. Then, everything drops silent, to reveal there's a spontaneous giggle followed by a declaration before a hilariously over-the-top string crescendo crashes down like cartoonish impact. The song then shifts to the frenetic single driven by galloping orchestration, an imposing choir, and a surprise role from the artist Björk.

"The magic of Lux is that you never quite know—or even wish to know—where you will go next."

Almost each song finishes in a totally different point from where it started. A track examines the fleeting trappings of fame over a featherlight symphony before disintegrating into electronic chaos. Elsewhere, a song echoing her earlier rhythmic style starts off moody and brooding, with prowling vocals, until fluttering flamenco handclaps and an angelic choir enter to soften its rough corners.

The Bridge Between Experiment & Accessibility

A key achievement on Lux is straddling the line between bold experimentation and broad accessibility. It is little surprise that it has achieved the artist's first work to crack the upper reaches of key markets: at its core a suite of truly catchy pop songs. A song performed entirely in English builds around a chorus that feels to gather more and more infectious hooks while it spirals skyward. This feat is repeated by another expansive ballad that expands and contracts, intertwining layered tunes like an intricate weave.

• A dance-infused song charms via its jaunty, Disney-adjacent drama and an anthemic chorus.
• In its words, it shares with pop culture impact of other heartbreak songs, eviscerating a former lover described as an "psychological bully".
• Throughout the album, the vocals carry a painted-on edge, like a fairy-tale figure hiding a knife: "Top prize in acting like a scoundrel / You have the podium of disappointment."

An Opulent Feast for the Soul

This album represents popular music on a maximalist scale, a hungry reach for high Art in an era of impending artificial sameness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of glorious transcendence, creating an over-the-top drama that skillfully controls its own built-in ridiculousness. It is a deep source of buried gems that requires time to fully mine but never feels like a chore. Where some big releases of 2025 seemed like feasting on meal, Lux is a sumptuous feast where the characters at the table, some tipsy on holy wine, flutter from discussions about historical figures, the profound sensation of soul-shattering sadness, and shared gossip about hopeless partners. In essence, it's a contemporary musical from music's truly endlessly creative visionary.