The album received a divided reception from music critics. Robert Sheldon for "The Times" termed the music as "rockophonic", and selected "The Ancient" as a piece of music that "will be studied twenty-five years hence as a turning point in modern music". "The Guardian" thought Anderson's "high-pitched and carefully modulated voice ... seemed at ease and control". Steve Peacock reviewed the album and a live performance of it for "Sounds" using the headlines "Wishy washy tales from the deep" and "Close to boredom".