Following the commercial success of her 1995 compilation album Singles, Moyet and Sony suffered disagreements over the singer's future artistic direction.

[6] Upon its release, Andy Gill of The Independent commented: "It's undoubtedly her most compelling set of performances since her 1984 solo debut Alf, and may be her best album, period.

"[11] David Peschek of The Guardian considered the album a "spectacular record of smouldering electronic torch songs, downbeat soul and wayward folk that is easily the best of her career.

"[9] Burhan Wazir of The Observer noted: "Hometime, surprisingly, is one of the most ambitious records of her career, and the strength of the songwriting rarely stumbles.

"[13] American magazine Billboard commented: "Beautifully produced by the Insects and primarily penned by the artist herself, Hometime finds Moyet tackling signature themes like love, lust and, yes, heartbreak.

It's that rare album that stands above pedantic industry scrutiny, instead pulling you into a dreamlike study of the truth and beauty that reside in the difficult spaces between ourselves and others.

"[16] Hal Horowitz of AllMusic noted: "Moyet's fifth album is a posh, lavish, elegant affair that shows she's lost none of her chops throughout the long layoff.

Between the intricately crafted songs, the ornate production, and Moyet's soulful voice, this is arguably her most fully realized and cohesive work.