[4] Eden Tizard of The Quietus regarded "juxtaposition" as a defining characteristic of Serpent Music, noting that "it merges ideas which would logically seem incompatible - grating noise one minute, blissed-out digital soul the next.

"[7] Pitchfork's Andy Beta compared the sonic traits of the record to those of James Ferraro and Dean Blunt, noting that "Tumor favors mysterious loops, soul music as rendered by the recently concussed and noise-as-loofah.

"[8] Angus Finlayson of Resident Advisor described the record as Tumor's "most naked and tender music, made with lush guitars, frazzled drum loops and his own heavenly falsetto," while stating that "at first it seems harmless; only later do you realise what you've gotten into.

"[10] Tiny Mix Tapes's Rafael Lubner called the record "a study in disruption, in aggregated polarities" and remarked that "Serpent Music's pieces are never reducible to the singular [sonic form], either formally or emotionally.

On the album, Noisey critic Michelle Lhooq stated: "Like the artist himself, Serpent Music is a slithering, complex work that unfurls over repeated encounters—but the effect is infinitely moving, like painting a dreamy landscape with hot streaks of raw emotion.