‘Lux Prima’ acts as a near-flawless advertisement for the power of collaboration at its best.
This isn’t the best record that either of these mercurial artists have made, but it’s undoubtedly the finest collaboration you’ll hear this year.
This album is an artistic masterpiece that weds Danger Mouse's incredible storytelling with Karen O's ambitious vocal presence in a 9-track journey that truly sheds the first light into the minds of these two icons.
‘Lux Prima’s MO is lush orchestration and bruised delicacy, it can’t be stressed enough how sumptuous this album sounds.
There’s obvious chemistry between these two in the studio, and Lux Prima sounds more dynamic than even the most optimistic fan could have hoped.
These are two artists who know when to pull back and when to pile on, with enough technical knowledge to execute their vision and enough passion to work until the little details are right.
Burton’s trademark retro touches are here — dreamy disco, ghostly synths and a crackly soulfulness.
Lux Primaβ is a welcome departure from O's recent, fledgling solo output, and Danger Mouse is the perfect conduit for her larger-than-life voice, message and ideas.
Lux Prima is an accomplished record – proof that two wildly different minds can work seamlessly together.
An album that feels storied, complex and, crucially, intentional.
While the sound of Lux Prima feels unexpected based off these artists’ distinct histories, Karen O and Danger Mouse have unlocked a new creative force within each other.
Lux Prima is the sophisticated, sonically adventurous album Karen O deserves to make at this point in her career.
Repeated plays make it a lovable record as the subtle, ultra-cool textures creep into your consciousness and make for dynamic and vibrant tunes that leave swirling, seraphic sensations playing inside your head.
Lux feels refreshing in the freedom and desire to explore new territory, resulting in a win for both.
Karen O and Danger Mouse have dreamt up a vividly imagined world, and it’s a pleasure to get lost in it. With a little more freedom, it could have been divine.
The innate desire of musical exploration of both artists is clear for all to see on ‘Lux Prima’; a complex but ultimately rewarding listen.
A lot of elements go into the production and sound of Lux Prima, however it is the restraint of the two artists that make the album work. What transpires is melding of the two worlds that does not come across as messy or unfocused, but rather the opposite.
Despite its flawless production, Lux Prima is a noticeably restrained affair, considering what a feral creature Karen O has always been.
Lux Prima certainly isn't Karen O's most urgent or explosive work, but it all sounds exceptionally lovely.
The result of a partnership with such creatively rich possibility ultimately just feels like another Broken Bells album, albeit a good one, at its core.
Lux Prima offers a nice atmosphere and a few insights, but a little focus would have provided a sharper image.
This album’s default seltzer dynamics are superbly well appointed, but the aim of many of these songs is often occluded by Burton’s knee-jerk tastefulness.
While it is endearing to hear Karen O working with a more patient form of songwriting, the raw energy and emotion of her best work isn’t present on Lux Prima.
It serviceably denotes grandeur and romance but without any real melodic invention.
Danger Mouse is the steady hand in the background bringing the album’s lush, smooth soundscapes into being, but sadly they do little to deflect from O’s impenetrably vague writing.
Karen O has such a playful and gorgeous voice with so much sincerity and range. I instantly fell in love with it when she sang the inspirational and tender Song for a Warri -AH FUCK I DID IT AGAIN!
A collaboration that made my imagination running wild, just to land, rather awkwardly, due to its lack of character, leaving me an unanswered question about what was the point of this session.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I believe Karen O excels at more spontaneous, off-the-cuff recording sessions with less intricate production and writing (i.e. Where The Wild Things Are and Crush Songs). This is still a very solid collection of songs, however, even though she's tapped into some well-trodden mainstream themes of contemporary pop.
Karen O has such a playful and gorgeous voice with so much sincerity and range. I instantly fell in love with it when she sang the inspirational and tender Song for a Warri -AH FUCK I DID IT AGAIN!
Pretty beautiful track list honestly. Definitely underrated, but I understand how the first couple tracks outshine the rest which may make for a boring experience
i sometimes still can't believe just how beautiful some of these songs sound (lux prima and ministry, for example). overall, this is an incredibly successful collab which makes me happy to have explored both of the artists involved.
1 | Lux Prima 9:02 | 88 |
2 | Ministry 5:06 | 91 |
3 | Turn the Light 3:19 | 86 |
4 | Woman 2:54 | 80 |
5 | Redeemer 3:49 | 80 |
6 | Drown 3:26 | 81 |
7 | Leopard's Tounge 3:13 | 80 |
8 | Reveries 3:44 | 90 |
9 | Nox Lumina 6:09 | 88 |
#10 | / | Magnet |
#18 | / | Northern Transmissions |
#19 | / | Piccadilly Records |
#21 | / | Magnetic |
#21 | / | The Wild Honey Pie |
#27 | / | God Is In The TV |
#34 | / | Rolling Stone |
#38 | / | Rough Trade |
/ | AllMusic |