Initially, Lux could seem more like a difficult scholarly examination than the latest pop project by an artist who just had a previous hit featured an international K-pop star. Split into four separate sections and performed in thirteen tongues, we have a head-spinning classical-tinged work exploring feminine mystique, religious transcendence, and physical transformation, often through the lens of various saintly figures. The end of a romance—a theme handled with raw honesty elsewhere—is shot skyward on this record, buoyed by the lush presence of a full symphony orchestra and contributions from an award-winning songwriter within an extensive roll call of contributors. The pure daring by itself makes the efforts of other pop stars look rather laughable.
Rising Above Academic Pretense
That this album succeeds in avoid dry intellectual posturing feels nearly miraculous, and full praise belonging to the artist. Although this is not the first time album to blend historical sounds with the present, the scale are much higher on Lux, with the tightrope walk more dramatic. What really raises her fourth release, beyond its complex tunes, dense compositions, and inherent theatricality, proves to be a core sense of playfulness. Much like the iconic Björk at her height, there is a wondrous sense to the vocalist's voice that pulls you up in its tornado. When she is tearing your heart apart, you nevertheless want to stay alongside her through the ride.
A Prime Example of Joy
This playful energy shines brightly on the stunning piano-led song inspired by a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful melancholy for several minutes. Then, all the music falls silent, to reveal we hear a gleeful laugh and a comment before a hilariously over-the-top orchestral surge crashes in like comedic impact. The song then shifts into the frenetic single featuring racing orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a cameo role from none other than herself.
"The magic of Lux is that you never quite understand—or even wish to know—where it will go next."
Almost every track concludes at a completely distinct point from how it started. One moment explores the fleeting trappings of fame over a featherlight orchestration only to disintegrating in digital cacophony. Another, a cut echoing the artist's earlier rhythmic style starts out moody and sinister, featuring prowling vocals, before fluttering flamenco handclaps and an angelic chorus enter to smooth its rough edges.
The Bridge Between Experiment and Pop
Another crucial balancing act of the album is navigating the gap of radical experimentation and broad accessibility. It is no coincidence that it has become her first release to crack the Top 5 of major charts: its heart contains a suite of truly catchy hits. One track sung entirely in the English language builds around a chorus that seems to collect more and more infectious melodies while it spins skyward. That feat is echoed by a different expansive ballad that grows and constricts, intertwining multiple tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused song seduces with its jaunty, theatrical flair and a chant-along chorus.
- Lyrically, it shares the pop culture impact of other breakup songs, eviscerating a former lover labeled an "emotional terrorist".
- Across the album, the vocals have a painted-on smile, like a fairy-tale figure concealing a knife: "Gold medal in being a motherfucker / You have the podium of letdown."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Soul
Lux is popular music on a maximalist scale, an ambitious grasp for high artistry in an era of impending artificial sameness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of sublime transcendence, crafting a dramatic spectacle that skillfully manages its inherent excess. This is an abundant source of buried gems that takes time to fully explore but doesn't feels like a chore. While other major releases of the year felt like feasting on meal, this record is a sumptuous banquet where the guests around the table, perhaps tipsy on holy wine, flutter from conversations about historical figures, the galvanizing feeling of soul-shattering sadness, and common stories about hopeless partners. In essence, it's a contemporary musical from pop's truly endlessly creative practitioner.
