The press release by RVNG Intl. summarized The River as a series of "lucid sound sequences from a lunatic mind." The EP is an experimental downtempo electronic psychedelic new age record that was categorized by William Rauscher of Resident Advisor as a "heavily soundtrack-esque exploration of kosmische atmosphere and ambient evocation." It mostly consists of textures that sound like they were made with acoustic instruments. Ray Finlayson of Beats per Minute described the sound of The River as a "beautiful landscape."
