At first glance, this album may look closer to a challenging scholarly examination rather than a new pop album by an artist who just had a last hit featured a global K-pop icon. Split into 4 distinct sections and performed in 13 languages, it is a dizzying classical-tinged album that delves into feminine mystique, spiritual ascent, and physical transformation, often through the prism of various female saints. The end of a romance—a topic treated with raw openness elsewhere—is shot heavenward here, supported by the lush presence of a major orchestra and work from a Pulitzer-winning composer among a long roll call of contributors. The pure audacity alone makes the work of contemporary artists appear rather modest.
Rising Above Scholarly Exercise
That this album manages to escape dry academic posturing is nothing short of miraculous, and complete credit going to the artist. While this is not her first album to alchemize historical sounds and modern styles, the scale feel much higher here, and the tightrope walk more precarious. The element that truly raises her fourth album, outside of its complex tunes, rich arrangements, and inherent drama, is a core spirit of playfulness. Much like the legendary artist at her peak, you find a wondrous quality to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you up in its whirlwind. Even when she's tearing your heart apart, you nevertheless want to stay right there through the journey.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
This exuberant spirit shines brightly on the stirring piano-led song about a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful melancholy over several minutes. Then, everything falls away, to reveal we hear a spontaneous laugh followed by a declaration before a hilariously exaggerated string crescendo thuds in with cartoonish impact. The track immediately shifts to the frenetic track driven by racing orchestration, a powerful choir, and a surprise role from the artist herself.
"The charm with this album lies in you rarely exactly know—nor want to predict—where you is going to next."
Nearly every song finishes in a totally different point from where it started. One moment explores the transient trappings of celebrity with a delicate symphony only to collapsing in electronic cacophony. Elsewhere, a cut that recalls her previous rhythmic style begins out dark and brooding, with menacing vocals, until fluttering traditional handclaps and a heavenly chorus enter to soften the song's jagged edges.
The Bridge Of Art & Pop
A key balancing act on the album is straddling the line between radical experimentation and broad accessibility. This is no surprise that the album has become the artist's first work to crack the upper reaches of major markets: its heart contains a collection of truly catchy pop songs. One track sung primarily in the English language swells around a refrain that seems to gather more and more infectious hooks as it spirals skyward. This feat is echoed by a different expansive track that expands and contracts, weaving multiple tunes as a complex tapestry.
- A dance-infused number charms via its jaunty, theatrical drama and an anthemic chorus.
- In its words, it shares with pop culture honesty of other breakup songs, lambasting an ex- partner described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout the album, the vocals have a sharp smile, akin to a storybook figure hiding a blade: "Gold medal in being a motherfucker / You've the podium of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Ears
This album represents popular music on a grand level, an ambitious grasp for high artistry in an era of looming artificial blankness. It rejects self-absorption in favor of glorious transcendence, creating a dramatic spectacle that skillfully manages its built-in excess. It is an abundant well of buried treasure that requires patience to fully explore but never feels like a chore. Where other major releases of 2025 seemed like a meager meal, this record is a lavish feast at which the characters at the table, perhaps tipsy on holy wine, flutter between discussions about historical figures, the profound feeling of heartbreaking grief, and common gossip about useless partners. In essence, it's a modern-day theatrical production from music's most endlessly inventive practitioner.
