Liz Frencham and Fred Smith Lovethongs - a new CD from Frencham Smith

The Frencham Smith collaboration first began at the National Folk Festival in April 2002. At the time Liz Frencham was growing in her role as bass player with the Sydney Celtic trio Jigzag, and was looking to spread her wings as a vocalist. Fred Smith had written an album’s worth of ballads for women’s vocals and was looking for the right gal. He found her.

Since then they recorded the acclaimed album Into My Room and have become a major force on the Australian Folk circuit, both as a duo and individually: In 2005 Liz released her first solo album “Jericho”. In that year the documentary film Bougainville Sky was released about Fred’s work in the Pacific and he moved to the United States where he has become a respected songwriter on the competitive US Scene. Fred returned to Australia to tour with Liz behind their second album Lovethongs which was released in April 2007.

Lovethongs was recorded over two years in studios in Australia, the US and Canada. It features contributions from North American musicians as well as from Australian luminaries including David Bridie, Ruth Hazelton, and Jon Jones, drummer from the Eric Bogle band.

Lovethongs — love on a dry continent — is a collection of love songs with an Australian flavour. Their settings and language are Australian without labouring the issue and combine heart and wry humour in a way that is uniquely Australian. It is this combination of Frencham’s warm vocals with the incisive wit of Smith’s writing that defines the Frencham Smith collaboration.

Lovethongs marks another departure for songwriter Fred Smith whose last two solo releases, Independence Park and the award winning Bagarap Empires, related stories from his experiences working in conflict zones in Bougainville and the Solomons.

Liz Frencham is best known through her work on bass and vocals with the Sydney trio Jigzag. She does most of the vocal duties for Frencham-Smith delivering songs with a sensitivity and lion-hearted courage that has made her one of the most sought-after performers in Australia. Her assured touch on the double bass brings to the duo real warmth and solidity.

Liz studied jazz bass at the Sydney Conservatorium, but her career and tastes have since taken her into the heart of the folk world. She has become one of the most sought after accompanists on the Australian folk circuit and has sat in with performers from Tony McManus to James Keelahan. She returned from recording sessions in the UK with Chris While and Julie Mathews to launch her collaboration with Fred Smith.

Most of the duos material comes from the pen of Fred Smith. The songs are sophisticated but they’re accessible, strong on emotion and full of wry observation. They’re catchy too. Songs that run the gamut from comic ditties to very personal ballads.

In 2002 Fred returned from the Solomons to record the award winning Bagarap Empires CD (pronounced Buggerup). The album won the ScreenSound Australia award for Best New Release of 2002 and caused the Age critic Warwick McFadyen to write: “Once in a blue moon, a drift of music so unlike any other enfolds your sensibilities and reaffirms the power of song”.

Freds under-stated guitar-picking and vocals are the perfect foil for Liz Frencham’s warm and generous style. Frencham & Smith tend to accumulate musicians at festivals — pianists, string players and percussionists, adding to the experience for festival goers. They perform material from Lovethongs and Into My Room as well as other material from their respective catalogues.

Press Quotes for Frencham Smith and their debut CD Into My Room
“Not Just bonza, double bonza, 10 out of 10 with a koala stamp... go and see Frencham Smith or I’ll slash your tyres.” Philip Adams, Late Night Live, Radio National

“Frencham Smith... rings with authenticity and charisma. There is a real strength to this album... soulful instrumentation, powerful yet emotive vocals and engaging lyrical themes ensure that Into My Room maintains its promise right across the ten tracks.”
Zolton Zavos, The Brag, 6 October 2003

“Liz Frencham and Fred Smith have come together to produce one of my ‘new’ favourite albums.
“Into My Room” is a fabulous, lyrically rich album that tells so many great stories... Fred Smith proves yet again (or was there ever any doubt) that he is a master of the song-writing craft. This album is the benchmark for any aspiring song-writer to listen to.

The idea of Smith and Frencham working together is genius... it is a union of two musical soul-mates that will, I hope, continue for many years to come.
5 Very Big Stars out 5.”
Tigdh O'Glesain 2006 www.indie-cds.com

“This CD firmly establishes Fred Smith in the top rank of songwriters... Frencham is a superb singer and a solid and melodic bass player”.
Graham McDonald, Canberra Times

“The pair spark off each other and imbue the songs with an enthusiasm that bubbles along on the surface of the melodies”
Warwick McFadyen, the Age

“A delightful combination- entertaining, clever, and, at times, very moving”
Sue Barrett, Trad & Now, Winter 2003

“Talent, voice and arrangement- what it’s all about”
Jim McQuarrie, Acoustic Folkus

“Fred Smith & Liz Frencham’ s new CD... has to be the most interesting and refreshing music I have heard in a long while.”
Barry Parks, 2HHH 100.1 FM