On the surface, this album could seem closer to a difficult academic challenge rather than the latest pop project by a musician who just had a last single was a collaboration with a global K-pop star. Divided across four distinct sections and sung in thirteen tongues, we have a dizzying classical-tinged work investigating feminine mystique, spiritual transcendence, and corporal change, often by way of the prism of various saintly figures. The end of a relationship—a theme handled with grounded openness on another major 2025 album—is shot heavenward on this record, supported by the lush sound of a full symphony orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning composer within a vast list of contributors. Its sheer daring by itself renders the efforts of contemporary artists look quite small.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
That Lux manages to avoid overly intellectual posturing is nearly a miracle, with sole credit belonging to the artist. Although this is not the first time album to alchemize the past with the present, the scale are far greater on Lux, and the tightrope walk far more precarious. The element that truly elevates this fourth release, outside of its multilayered melodies, dense arrangements, and inherent drama, proves to be an essential spirit of joy. Much like the legendary artist during her height, you find a captivating quality to the vocalist's singing that pulls the listener up in its whirlwind. Even when she is tearing hearts in two, the listener still want to be alongside her through the ride.
A Signature Moment of Joy
That playful spirit shines clearly during the stunning Italian song inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a string-drenched melancholy over more than four moments. Suddenly, all the music drops silent, and we hear a spontaneous laugh and a comment before a hilariously exaggerated orchestral crescendo crashes down like comedic impact. The track immediately shifts to the frenetic single driven by racing strings, an imposing choir, and a cameo appearance from none other than herself.
"The charm with Lux is that you never quite know—or even want to know—where it will go next."
Nearly every song concludes at a completely distinct place than how it started. One moment examines the transient trappings of celebrity with a delicate symphony only to disintegrating into digital chaos. Another, a song echoing her previous rhythmic style starts out moody and brooding, with prowling beats, before fluttering traditional handclaps and an angelic chorus arrive to smooth the song's jagged corners.
The Balance Between Art and Accessibility
Another crucial balancing act of Lux is navigating the line between bold innovation and mainstream appeal. It is no coincidence that the album has become the artist's first work to crack the upper reaches of major markets: at its core a collection of truly undeniable hits. One track sung entirely in the English language builds on a chorus that feels to gather more and more nagging melodies as it spins upward. That trick gets repeated on another powerful ballad that expands and contracts, weaving multiple melodies as an intricate weave.
- A waltz-like number charms with its jaunty, theatrical drama and an anthemic hook.
- In its words, it aligns the pop culture honesty of other breakup songs, eviscerating a former partner described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout these tracks, the vocals carry a sharp smile, like a fairy-tale character concealing a knife: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of letdown."
An Opulent Banquet for the Ears
Lux is popular music on a maximalist scale, a hungry reach for high Art in an era of impending AI-generated blankness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of glorious elevation, creating an over-the-top spectacle that skillfully manages its inherent excess. It is an abundant source of hidden treasure that requires patience to fully explore but never feels like a chore. While some big releases of 2025 seemed like a meager meal, Lux offers a sumptuous banquet at which the guests around the table, perhaps intoxicated on holy drink, flutter from discussions about ancient figures, the profound feeling of heartbreaking grief, and shared gossip about hopeless partners. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from music's truly endlessly inventive practitioner.