"The Marble Index" has a sound which distinguishes it from the musical landscape of the 1960s. Anthony Thornton of "NME" called it "a stark, oppressive opus that has influenced everyone from PJ Harvey to the Duke Spirit. According to "Spin", "["The Marble Index"] set the tone for decades of music to come – Arthur Russell, Dead Can Dance, Fennesz, Zola Jesus, Grouper, pretty much every metal band that ever used a harpsichord – but few followers have sailed so near to the edge of the abyss with such chillingly beautiful results." The Canadian rock band The Marble Index is named after Nico's album.