Meantime has been described by The Guardian's Paul Lester and The Quietus' Kiran Acharya as a meticulous record with a subtle ability to constantly shift between pop to prog-rock and house to R&B.

"It [Meantime] is as far from cold synth music as you can get – there's a warmth to it, a playfulness and forlorn exuberance that makes it sound as human as any acoustic singer-songwriter record."

Mike Diver of BBC Music complimented Meantime's closer 'LGOYH' for its lasting impression, "marked by some memorable, heartfelt lines, for example: 'worthwhile love is a handful'".

Diver also positively compares Kwes' songwriting to Bloc Party's Kele Okereke and the up-tempo pop sensibilities of 'Bashful' to Hot Chip.

[5] The theme of unrequited love in 'Honey' takes direct inspiration from the Beach Boys' song Vegetables, which was written by Brian Wilson.