On the surface, this album might appear closer to a challenging scholarly challenge rather than the latest pop record by a musician whose previous hit was a collaboration with a global pop star. Divided across four distinct movements and sung in 13 tongues, it is a head-spinning orchestral-influenced opus that delves into female mystery, spiritual transcendence, and bodily transformation, often through the lens of different female saints. The dissolution of a relationship—a theme treated with raw openness on another major 2025 album—is launched skyward here, buoyed by the lush presence of a full orchestra and work from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter within a long list of contributors. Its sheer ambition alone renders the work of contemporary artists seem rather laughable.
Transcending Academic Pretense
The fact that this album succeeds in escape overly academic posturing is almost miraculous, and complete praise going to the artist. Although it's not her first album to fuse historical sounds with modern styles, the scale feel much greater here, and the tightrope walk more pronounced. What really elevates her fourth album, beyond its complex melodies, rich compositions, and engrained theatricality, is a core spirit of fun. Similar to the legendary artist during her peak, there is a wondrous sense to the vocalist's voice which sweeps the listener up in its whirlwind. Even when she is tearing hearts in two, the listener nevertheless want to be alongside her for the ride.
A Prime Moment of Exuberance
That playful spirit comes forth brightly on a stunning piano-led song about Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool for more than four minutes. Suddenly, all the music drops silent, to reveal there's a spontaneous giggle followed by a declaration before a hilariously exaggerated orchestral surge thuds down with comedic force. The song immediately shifts into the frenetic single featuring racing strings, an imposing choir, and a cameo appearance from the artist herself.
"The charm with this album is that the listener never exactly know—nor want to know—what it will go to next."
Almost every track concludes at a totally distinct point than where it started. One moment explores the fleeting nature of fame with a delicate symphony before disintegrating into electronic cacophony. Another, a song echoing the artist's previous rhythmic work starts off moody and sinister, featuring menacing beats, until fluttering flamenco handclaps and a heavenly chorus enter to smooth its jagged edges.
The Bridge Between Experiment & Pop
A key balancing act of the album involves navigating the line between radical innovation and broad appeal. This is little coincidence that it has achieved the artist's first work to break into the Top 5 of key charts: its heart contains a suite of truly catchy pop songs. A song sung entirely in English builds on a chorus that feels to collect increasingly nagging melodies while it spins upward. That trick gets repeated by another expansive ballad that expands and contracts, weaving multiple melodies like a complex tapestry.
- A waltz-like song charms via its jaunty, theatrical flair and an anthemic hook.
- In its words, it shares with pop culture impact of other heartbreak songs, eviscerating a former lover described as an "emotional bully".
- Across these tracks, the singing have a painted-on edge, akin to a fairy-tale character hiding a knife: "Gold medal in acting like a motherfucker / You have won the trophy of letdown."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Ears
This album is pop on a grand scale, a hungry reach for high Art amid of impending AI-generated blankness. It eschews solipsism in favor of sublime transcendence, crafting a dramatic spectacle that skillfully manages its own built-in ridiculousness. This is a deep well of hidden treasure that takes time to fully mine but never feels like a chore. Where some big pop albums of 2025 felt like feasting on scraps, Lux offers a lavish feast where the characters at it, some tipsy on holy drink, flutter from discussions about ancient figures, the profound sensation of heartbreaking grief, and common gossip about useless men. In essence, it's a modern-day musical from music's most restlessly creative visionary.
