GENRE; Electronic
LABEL; Jialong
RATING; 3/5
Butterfly by Daphni (Dan Snaith) is a vibrant, kinetic return from one of electronic music’s most restless explorers. Released on his own Jiaolong label, this full‑length effort marks Snaith’s first Daphni album in four years and blends his DJ‑set instincts with polished production that feels both purposeful and unpredictable.
From the opening “Sad Piano House” to standout cuts like “Waiting So Long” and “Good Night Baby,” Butterfly thrives on infectious rhythms and festival‑ready hooks. The record leans into overground house and techno‑influenced energy, featuring bright arpeggios, syncopated beats, and disco‑house flourishes that make it ideal dancefloor material.
Critically, Butterfly has received generally favorable reviews, with a Metacritic score of 78/100, praised for its feel‑good momentum and inventive sonic palette. Publications like Clash Music and musicOMH highlight its fertile beats and feel‑good spirit, noting that it may already be one of the defining electronic records of the year.
However, not all critics are unanimous: Pitchfork argues that the album sometimes sacrifices surprise for formulaic big‑room appeal, suggesting its hooks and drops are engineered more for lift than unexpected emotional depth.
What makes Butterfly compelling is its sense of motion — tracks like “Two Maps” and “Josephine” escalate with euphoric abandon, while more experimental entries (“Invention,” “Talk To Me”) introduce moments of darker intrigue and playful oddity.
Ultimately, Butterfly is less a traditional album experience and more a mosaic of club‑centric ideas. It’s a record designed to keep hips moving and turn heads, reinforcing Daphni’s reputation as both a dancefloor craftsman and a boundary‑pushing producer.
