The song, described as a "synth pop classic",[3] was inspired by the atmosphere of World War II, and features a guest appearance by XTC's Andy Partridge.

[5] Drowned in Sound's Joseph Stannard has noted that "Europa and the Pirate Twins" is written with World War II as a strong influence, and that the song "emphasises the short distance between [Dolby's] generation and the one which endured the last global conflict".

[7] "Europa and the Pirate Twins" received a "sequel" on Dolby's 1992 album Astronauts & Heretics, in the song "Eastern Bloc";[8] which has been described by Audio magazine as "appealingly faithful" to the original.

[17] "Europa and the Pirate Twins" has been described by Peter Buckley, in his book The Rough Guide to Rock, as "showcas[ing] Dolby's trademark combination of the charming and the gimmicky".

[19] Writing for Allrovi, Stewart Mason described the song as "a hyperactive synth pop classic", whose "every nook and cranny is stuffed with some sort of ear-grabbing hook".