Similar to "25 O'Clock", the music was heavily influenced by the 1960s psychedelic era. However, "Skylarking" contrasted significantly from earlier XTC efforts. As music critic A.D. Amorosi wrote, "More lyrically mature, lush and gently psychedelic than anything before in their catalog, "Skylarking" borrowed the hilly, holy feel of "Mummer", as well as the ringing Beatles-ish vibe from ... "The Big Express", but with a softly sweeping gracefulness and a finessed orchestral swirl. It has been variously described as an album of art rock, art pop, new wave, psychedelic pop, psychedelic rock, neo-psychedelia, post-punk, and chamber pop.