This article is pretty sloppy. There are 2 different versions. The 7 minute release has vocals coming in just under 2 minutes. The 12 minute version has vocals kicking in just under 4 minutes. So the characterization that the intro "ebbs and flows for more than four minutes" is incorrect in all possible counts.
And in aggregate pop music has always been objectively terrible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJV2pWFyfn4 has the vocals come in at 4:02 which I guess very technically is over 4 minutes, but it's a vinyl recording that starts ~5 seconds before the beginning of the song.
And in aggregate pop music has always been objectively terrible.