On Time Machine, Alma pulls her guard down to reflect on more emotionally charged, intimate troubles – her origins, parents, twin sister, relationships, queer identity, pop star pressures and regrets – with a new sound that embraces her spiritual predecessors.

[7] DIY's writer Otis Robinson wrote that "Throughout [Time Machine], Alma sits within a kaleidoscope of psychedelic Scandipop pop-rock, each track swelling in whispering grandiosity, as if ABBA were put into a melting pot with Elton John, David Bowie, and even a bit of trippy newbies Lime Garden.

[3] Laura Freyaldenhoven from Dork described the albums as "very much brimming with flaming lyricism, exhilarating bridges and the soaring vocals that have become Alma's trademark" and also stated that "Honest and undeniably personal, Alma has created a second album that not only reiterates the extent of her musical prowess but allows us to meet her in a different setting – off stage, "before".

[8] Writing for The Line of Best Fit, Emma Thimgren gave the album score 6 out of 10 and commented that "'Time Machine'” as a whole takes very few risks.

[9] The Observer's Ammar Kalia noted that "[Time Machine] shows admirable maturity for the 27-year-old, but while her lyrics might be more nuanced, the music becomes homogeneous without the danceable thump of her earlier work.