"[11] Katherine St. Asaph from Pitchfork states, "the Dutch-Iranian singer continues to mine trip-hop for inspiration, with a voice that evokes the genre's greats."

She notes that Sevdaliza's voice draws from influences such as, "Tracey Thorn's richness, Nicola Hitchcock's tremolo", also stating, "while adding distinctive melisma evoking her Iranian roots."

"[12] Jem Aswad from Variety also points out influences, noting, "occasional quavering Portisheadian moods", "FKA Twig-ish elements", and, "swooning string arrangements that recall Siouxsie & the Banshees circa 'Dazzle'".

She points out several tracks on the EP, including "Energ1", where "a particularly beautiful moment occurs in the middle of... when a driving beat underpins an aching string quartet, then the beat starts to fracture as her voice, treated to sound ghost-like, floats in", and "Observer", which she states is "one of the most commercial-leaning songs she's ever done", while noting "its relative normal-ness is as disorienting as the odder tracks that precede it."

A constantly shifting soundscape of strings, beats and voices, The Calling finds Sevdaliza morphing initially familiar sounds into ever-odder new shapes.