Initially, Lux could seem closer to an arduous scholarly quiz rather than the latest pop album from an artist who just had a last single was a collaboration with an international K-pop icon. Divided into 4 distinct sections and performed in 13 tongues, this is a breathtaking classical-tinged work investigating feminine mystery, spiritual transcendence, and physical change, often via the perspective of different women saints. The dissolution of a romance—a topic handled with grounded honesty elsewhere—is launched heavenward here, carried by the lush presence of a major symphony orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter among a vast list of contributors. The pure ambition by itself renders the efforts of contemporary pop stars look rather modest.
Transcending Academic Pretense
That this album succeeds in escape dry intellectual chin-stroking is nearly a miracle, with sole praise going to the artist. Although it's not her first album to blend historical sounds with modern styles, its ambitions are far greater here, and the balancing act more dramatic. What truly elevates this fourth album, outside of its multilayered tunes, dense compositions, and engrained theatricality, is an essential sense of playfulness. Much like the iconic Björk during her peak, you find a wondrous sense to the vocalist's voice that pulls the listener up in its tornado. When she's tearing your heart apart, the listener nevertheless desire to stay right there for the journey.
A Signature Example of Exuberance
That exuberant energy comes forth clearly during the stunning Italian ballad inspired by a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful melancholy over more than four moments. Then, everything drops away, and we hear a gleeful giggle and a comment before a hilariously exaggerated orchestral crescendo thuds down with cartoonish force. The track then shifts to the wild track driven by racing orchestration, an imposing choir, and a surprise role from none other than Björk.
"The magic with this album lies in you rarely exactly know—or even want to know—where you will go to next."
Nearly every song concludes at a totally different point from where it started. A track examines the transient nature of celebrity with a featherlight symphony before collapsing into digital cacophony. Another, a song echoing her previous rhythmic work starts out moody and sinister, featuring prowling beats, until fluttering traditional handclaps and an angelic chorus enter to smooth its jagged edges.
The Bridge Of Art & Accessibility
Another crucial achievement of the album is straddling the gap between radical innovation and mainstream appeal. This is no coincidence that it has achieved her first work to crack the Top 5 of major charts: at its core a collection of utterly undeniable hits. One track sung primarily in English builds around a chorus that seems to collect more and more nagging hooks as it spirals skyward. That trick gets repeated by a different expansive track that expands and constricts, weaving multiple melodies like an intricate weave.
- A dance-infused song seduces via its jaunty, Disney-adjacent drama and a chant-along hook.
- Lyrically, it shares the pop culture impact of other breakup songs, eviscerating a former lover described as an "psychological bully".
- Across the album, the singing carry a painted-on edge, like a storybook character hiding a blade: "Gold medal in acting like a motherfucker / You've won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
Lux is pop on a grand level, an ambitious reach for high Art in an era of impending artificial blankness. It rejects self-absorption in favor of sublime transcendence, creating a dramatic drama that masterfully manages its own built-in ridiculousness. It is an abundant well of buried gems that takes patience to fully mine but doesn't seem like hard work. While some major pop albums of the year seemed like feasting on scraps, this record offers a lavish feast where the characters at the table, some intoxicated on sacred wine, flutter from discussions about historical figures, the galvanizing sensation of soul-shattering grief, and shared stories about hopeless partners. In essence, it's a contemporary musical from pop's truly endlessly inventive practitioner.
