At first glance, Lux might appear closer to an arduous scholarly quiz rather than a new popular music album by a musician whose previous hit featured an international K-pop icon. Split across 4 distinct movements and sung in 13 tongues, we have a head-spinning classical-tinged opus investigating feminine mystery, religious ascent, and bodily change, frequently through the lens of different women saints. The end of a romance—a theme handled with raw honesty elsewhere—is shot upwards on this record, carried by the lush presence of a major symphony orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning composer among an extensive list of contributors. Its sheer audacity by itself makes the efforts of contemporary artists look rather modest.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
That this album succeeds in transcend overly intellectual posturing feels nothing short of a miracle, and full credit belonging to the artist. Although this is not her first album to alchemize the past and modern styles, its stakes are far higher on Lux, with the tightrope walk far more dramatic. What really elevates her fourth release, outside of its complex tunes, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, proves to be an essential sense of fun. Much like the legendary artist at her peak, you find a wondrous sense to the vocalist's singing that pulls the listener up in its tornado. When she is tearing your heart apart, you nevertheless desire to stay alongside her for the ride.
A Signature Example of Exuberance
That exuberant spirit shines clearly during a stunning Italian song about a saint. It bathes in a string-drenched melancholy for more than four minutes. Suddenly, all the music falls away, to reveal we hear a gleeful giggle and a comment before a comically over-the-top orchestral surge thuds in like comedic impact. The track immediately segues into the wild single driven by racing strings, a powerful choir, and a surprise appearance from the artist herself.
"The charm with this album is that you rarely quite understand—nor want to predict—where it is going to next."
Nearly each song concludes in a totally different place than how it began. A track explores the transient nature of celebrity over a featherlight symphony only to collapsing into digital chaos. Another, a song echoing her previous trap-infused style starts out moody and sinister, featuring menacing beats, until sudden traditional rhythms and an angelic chorus arrive to soften the song's jagged edges.
The Balance Between Experiment & Pop
Another crucial achievement on the album is navigating the line of radical experimentation and mainstream accessibility. It is no surprise that the album has achieved her highest-charting release to crack the upper reaches of key charts: its heart contains a collection of utterly catchy pop songs. A song sung entirely in the English language builds around a refrain that seems to gather increasingly nagging melodies while it spirals skyward. This trick is repeated by another expansive track that grows and constricts, intertwining multiple tunes like an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like number charms via its jaunty, theatrical drama and an anthemic hook.
- In its words, it aligns with pop culture impact of other heartbreak songs, eviscerating a former partner described as an "emotional bully".
- Across these tracks, the vocals have a painted-on smile, akin to a storybook character concealing a blade: "Top prize in being a motherfucker / You have the podium of disappointment."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Soul
Lux represents pop on a grand level, a hungry reach for high Art amid of impending artificial sameness. It rejects solipsism for glorious transcendence, crafting a dramatic spectacle that masterfully controls its built-in ridiculousness. It is an abundant source of buried treasure that takes time to completely mine but never seem like hard work. Where some major releases of the year seemed like feasting on meal, Lux offers a lavish feast at which the guests at the table, some tipsy on sacred wine, flit from discussions about historical figures, the profound feeling of heartbreaking grief, and common gossip about useless partners. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from music's most restlessly creative visionary.
