Ancient River Explores the Psychedelic Frontier, Knoxville Mercury
"I moved there specifically to make music with another band in town, and then I met James,” Cordova says. “I had never joined a band that already existed. I can say this about Ancient River—when I found out about the band, if I hadn’t joined, they probably would have been my favorite band in Gainesville. I kind of feel like it was the right time, right place...”
Revolt Of The Apes, band of the week Ancient River
"Ancient River are so dialed-in to their individual current at this moment – a current strengthened, without question, by the duo’s relentless touring – that the entire album becomes more than a sum of its parts, just as the dawn can be felt each morning as something more than our moon momentarily disappearing from view. Ancient River has turned over time to also be much more than the sum of its parts, and on 'Keeper of the Dawn,' to simply be Ancient River. The album is a keeper in a thousand different ways."
The Wild Honey Pie feature Ancient River's track Keeper Of The Dawn
"With a name like “Keeper Of The Dawn”, Ancient River has set all our expectations extremely high for their new release, and needless to say, those expectations have been met. Heavy on the reverb and chill on the vibes, “Keeper of The Dawn” sounds like the product of what would happen if Connan Mockasin had a recording session with The Doors."
Stereo Embers Track Of The Day, Keeper Of The Dawn
“On a nexus where the more introspective moments of early Genesis (think Lamb Lies..) intersects with a re-imagined Spiritualized chasing some lost psych-Americana spark, slow-dancing in the desert with an errant gleam of crystal, you’ll find Ancient River”
Spin Magazine Premieres This Is The Time by Ancient River
“Hearing Ancient River‘s lush, expansive sound, it’s hard to imagine that it’s just two guys. Starting out as the bedroom brainchild of lead singer James Barreto, the Gainesville duo are getting ready to release their newest album Keeper of the Dawn. Taking cues from contemporaries like Temples and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, new single “This Is The Time” finds the duo in a magical haze...”
The Obelisk feature Keeper Of The Dawn
“...my first exposure to the band, who are already veterans of Austin Psych Fest, Liverpool Psych Fest and others — they’ll also appear at Milwaukee Psych Fest and the Reverence Festival this year — but the spaciousness the Gainesville duo offer argues well in its own favor.”
Austin Town Hall
“When you read that an artist was present at the Austin Psych Fest, thoughts can be misleading, perhaps explaining the rebranding as Levitation Fest. Ancient River remind me of how much that sound can influence, yet also expand beyond those boundaries, especially with their new six minute opus. The songs hazy and plodding, quietly building on this barely audible little melody. It’s really something to experience, finding yourself weaving our ears in and out of this tune...”
Impose Magazine Interview James Barreto
"....After The Ohm I locked myself in a room for a couple of years trying to really develop my sound. I played guitar until it felt like another limb and also taught myself some music theory. My goal was to define exactly what I wanted to do artistically and have the ability to do it..."
"...We are big David Axelrod fans and I loved the idea of putting the drums up front on some tracks. The album is a dark precursor to those first moments of light at dawn, only what you thought was the early light was merely a dream and you awaken to find yourself in the darkest of night with morning no where..."
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