[1][2] Fonteles intended for the album to be heavily influenced by spirituality and mysticism and Gil calls it "very religious", though he is an agnostic.

Another song featured on the album, "Copo vazio" ("Empty glass"), was written by Gil for famous Brazilian musician Chico Buarque.

Gil composed the song "Cérebro eletrônico" ("Electronic brain") during his imprisonment by the Brazilian military government in 1969.

[6] Jon Pareles of The New York Times described Gil Luminoso as "a lovely album", writing in particular on the philosophical qualities of its lyrics.

[6] Washington Post critic Mike Joyce noted that the album's lyrics "are often as thoughtful as they are poetic" and praised its arrangements as well, calling them "alluring and revealing".