Snakehips’ debut album Never Worry is their trademark sound with a rotating cast of velvety vocals

Now, having released their debut album Never Worry, it features a range of independent and larger artists to provide narrative vocals amongst house-heavy beats.

The album opens with “Sometimes…," an electronic-backed track supported by retro-sounding video-game-like beats and vocals from Daya and Earthgang. Synth-heavy with velvety vocals, the track successfully captures the joys of electronic drum pads and the experimentation they allow. The following track, “Deal With It," is more enticing, drawing forth a bass-heavy tune that is undeniable dance and groove ready. With mantra-like singing courtesy of Kilo Kish, the song is best enjoyed through its heavy, groovy beats: perfect for a club floor.

The middle section of the album slows down substantially, featuring multiple tracks accompanied by vocal performances from Nicole Millar, MadeinTYO, and Duckwrth, to name a few. Whilst the melodies are catchy, the rotation of similarly-processed vocals from featured artists causes the bulk of the album to blend and lose sight of each individual song, and you're not quite sure where one song opens and another one ends. With similar vocal processing and the familiarity of Snakehips’ preferred instruments, the bulk of the album turns into one long house track.

The most notable songs of the album are “Whenever U Call” – the only track without a featured vocalist – which plays with the sound effects of landline telephones, voicemails, and old-school cell phone beeps. The effects create a nostalgic environment that smoothly joins the electronic genre, accompanied by the ever-familiar synth. The other notable track is “Water.,” which maintains the same processing as the other tracks on the record, but comes accompanied with the smooth, deep bass of Bryce Vine’s voice, cutting through the monotony of neighbouring songs.

Never Worry closes with “Who’s Gonna Love You Tonight” featuring the wonderful Tinashe, a ballad-like piece that maintains the sanctity of the rest of the record’s stylistic choices. Slightly slower, the track begins with a piano melody before transitioning onto standard synth harmonies, allowing a smooth conclusion within the closing track.

Overall, the record shows a strong entry into the album game, from a long-successful electronic duo. Whilst there are several noteworthy tracks, the album struggles to maintain a strong identity, alternating between lead vocal artists so quickly and frequently it becomes difficult to keep track. Notably, one of the most enjoyable songs featured no guest vocals at all, proving how the electronic duo to shines best when not crowded by guest artists, staying true to their own unique sound.