Recorded by OMD frontman Andy McCluskey along with musicians enlisted for the multi-million selling Sugar Tax (1991), the album ventures further into the dance-pop style explored by its predecessor.

Following the success of Sugar Tax, OMD staged a UK tour of large venues in support of Liberator, with Gary Numan as the opening act.

[4] Following the success of Sugar Tax, OMD staged a UK tour of large venues in support of Liberator, with Gary Numan as the opening act.

[19] Mark LePage of The Gazette wrote, "The last of the Brit synth-pop electro-hookers has found freshness by re-tooling the genre's best moments... Liberator is hook-mad and relentlessly catchy, and even mildly inventive in parts.

[23] Neil Spencer of The Observer stated, "Liberator repeats the [Sugar Tax] formula of swirling synths, crashing drum machines and trite, mournful songs; most of it sounds like the Brookside theme with added words, but of such banalities are massive hits made.

"[24] Select's Dave Morrison described the record as "pleasant, disposable stuff",[18] while Scott Hipper of the Santa Cruz Sentinel labelled it a "second-rate effort".

[25] In a later review for Classic Pop, Wyndham Wallace wrote that Liberator "found OMD adrift", with McCluskey "embracing contemporary dance culture like a 'Cool Dad'.

"[12] Trouser Press said, "All those years spent in the company of keyboards evidently left [McCluskey] fully able to make convincing percolating rhythms and layers of faux violins, and both get good use on what is a pretty stupid but diverting exercise.

"[26] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine remarked, "While it is far from the experimental and edgy synth-pop that earned the group rave reviews in the early '80s, [Liberator] is an enjoyable, lightweight collection of appealing dance-pop.