"This is a pretty fantastic treat. First of all, the CD is beautifully packaged, in a well designed gatefold case with a fully illustrated booklet of lyrics. Secondly, this is a dramatically adventurous album of folk music, immediately setting itself apart from the majority of other albums reviewed here, and unfolding rewardingly with repeated listens. An unlikely collaboration between a husband and wife folk duo, an avant-garde electronics composer and a poet, despite the seriousness of its origins the album happily comes together in a way that is generally accessible and highly enjoyable. The starting point for each song is the poetry of Keith Jafrate, largely focussed on nature and filled with dramatic and powerful imagery, which is set to music by Tim Cole and given life by the striking voice of his wife Julie Cole. For me, however, it's the arrangements of composer Martin Archer that set this project alight. Many songs are given great warmth and character by his excellent performances on a variety of woodwind instruments, sometimes on overlaid and intertwining parts. His imaginative arrangement of traditional instruments is sometimes reminiscent of Nick Drake, and the clever use of classic keyboards projects a song like "Hunting stone and light" into something you might be unsurprised to find on a Pram album. Similar electronic interventions cut a thunderous swathe through "I travelled north to hide", the song closing with an otherworldly, unsettling spoken word section in their wake. His talents even stretch to conducting a brass band from his sofa, for the more optimistic (at least until its final organ drone) "On nine barrow down". Whether you're a folk aficionado or you've always felt safer in avoiding its unfamiliar waters, Army of Briars offers a beautiful opportunity to broaden your musical horizons" - Rob Chimes, Sandman
"Over the years, I’ve become weaned on expecting the unexpected from this avant-garde U.K.-based record label. The Army of Briars is an utterly delightful and modernized spin on British folk music. Furthering time-honored concepts set forth by Pentangle and other eminent British folk entities, this outing presents Keith Jafrates’ dream-swept lyrics, with vocals by Julie and Tim Cole. However, instrumentalists performing electric bass, violin, bass flute, laptops and a brass quintet provide the contemporary edge here.
Cole’s angelic vocalizations are supplanted by subtle hints of world music and effects-driven existential backdrops, yet each piece carries its weight via divergent aspects. But nothing gets out of hand or becomes orchestrated into oblivion, with the brass quintet enamoring a blissful musical terrain on “A Lesson.” While saxophonist/keyboardist Martin Archer adorns some of these works with silvery linings, the inherent attributes of this program vary slightly. Tim Cole, on guitar and keyboards, also engages in beautiful harmonies with his better-half, atop various underpinnings. The ensemble also incorporates subliminal aspects of classic progressive rock into its stately themes. Chalk it all up to a sequence of compositions that rather uncannily morph into a wondrously envisioned project which makes uncommonly perfect sense." - Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz
"Beautiful, genuine folk" - Freenoise
"Little touches of Henry Cow and early Robert Wyatt.....not for everyone, but those who get it will find a lot of depth to warrant repeated listenings" - Chris Nickson, Stirrings
"Attention grabbing, if not always easily digested....slightly un-nerving (and) drama tinged,,,,," - Sheffield Star
