[15] The Observer wrote that the album "dazzlingly mixes West African and Arabic roots with western production values.

"[13] Rolling Stone concluded that "Mursal refuses to remain a prisoner of her native styles, embracing the frank beats and feral musical constructions of European, Middle Eastern and African nightclubs.

"[20] The Irish Times deemed the album "a healthy hybrid that is fuelled by Mursal's passionate vocals—and impressive playing by a host of musicians.

"[21] The Gazette noted that "all manner of high-tech, worldbeat stuff has been grafted on to Mursal's Somali roots music.

"[22] The Chicago Tribune stated that The Journey "frames Mursal's extraordinary alto voice inside an array of musical textures created by strings, horn samples from old mambo records, wah-wah guitars, accordions and traditional instruments.