Carlick, reviewing for Exclaim!, wrote, "Blais maintains a strong sense of originality and personality on Il — a hard thing to do on an instrument that's over 300 years old — by mixing a number of styles into his own strongly emotive sound that's never overly cheery or melancholy, but still suits both moods perfectly." Another writer for the source, Calum Slingerland, stated that "Blais's playing is at once immersive and intricate, able to appeal to both genre purists and casual listeners." Il was awarded as one of the "Top 10 Improv & Avant-Garde Albums" of 2016 by the publication.Slingerland, Calum (December 9, 2016). "Exclaim!'s Top 10 Improv & Avant-Garde Albums". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 3, 2017. Il was number ten on Time magazine's list of the best albums of 2016, who praised the LP's minimal structure: "The music breathes, and it invites you to take a moment and recognize there’s still plenty of beauty left in the world."Cox, Jamieson (November 22, 2016). "The Top 10 Everything of 2016: The Top 10 Best Albums". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved October 31, 2017. It also was on the longlist of the 2016 Polaris Music Prize but didn't make it into the top-ten shortlist.Brophy, Aaron (June 15, 2016). "2016 Polaris Music Prize Long List Is Here". Polaris Music Prize Official Blog. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
