... wunderschöne, zarte, behutsame, sachte Klänge der Stimmen und Instrumente! Wie auf allen Projekten zuvor, verzaubern uns Daniel Littleton, Elizabeth Mitchell und (später hinzugekommen) Karla Schickele seit ihrem 94er Debut auf Simple Machines mit ewig begnadeten Melodien, die zumeist in bedächtigem Tempo und filigran-intelligent arrangiert daherhuschen. Das New Yorker Trio (plus Gästen wie ex-Tsunami-Drummer Luther Gray) gehört in Sachen innovativer Klangästhetik zur absoluten Creme von Low, Retsin, Tara Jane O'Neil, Mascott, Softies, Califone, Spinanes u.ä. Bei einigen wenigen harschen Gitarrenverzerrungen, kurzen Indie Rock-Momenten und schrägen Geigennoten überwiegen auf diesem neuen 11 Tracks-Werk, das wieder völlig ohne Coverversionen auskommt, die sanften akustischen Momente mit Gitarren, Harmonium, Viola, Akkordion, Bass, Keyboards, etwas Schlagzeug und den kongenialen Stimmen der drei Hauptakteure. Ist hier schon das Wort "begnadet" gefallen? Ja, dann eben nochmal!!

(Glitterhouse)

Recorded between August 2003 and April 2004, Heart Like a River is Ida's first record in four years and released on their new home, Polyvinyl Records. Ida present everything we love to hear from the band — amazing harmonies that never get old against lush arrangements that leave you aching in the best possible way. Ida slowly unfold Heart Like a River, enveloping you with an intimate melancholy that directs you to roll along with tracks like the sensitive, vocal brass sound of "Mine," the lightly syncopated, "Written on My Face," and the hypnotic "The Morning." "599" is one track on Heart Like a River that stands out as the highlight, pointing us to an area that Ida should explore in the future. Combining the touch of post-rock leanings that Braille Night had and the slowcore edge that is always present in Ida's music with a hint of shoegaze, "599" swirls along like Swervedriver with less pedal hopping and Velour 100 with even more earnestness. Ida continues to create slow, sad music that maintains interesting depth within the ache. Heart Like a River is an hour-long, heartbreaking experience that is a wonderful return for the brave Ida.

(by David Serra, All Music Guide)