winner - National Film and Sound Archives National Folk Recording Award 2009

Urban Sea Shanties shanghaies the listener into a rich musical journey from the bars of Birmingham to the flooded streets of New Orleans, from the Mosques of Karachi to the Dapto Dog Track. Fred Smith’s distinctive lead vocals switch between narration and singing, creating different voices and characters from around the globe. With vocal arrangements by the Chorale’s Stephen Taberner, the Spooky Men inhabit various roles in the cast, painting a musical picture of adventurous travel exploring a wide, colourful world. The CD is beautifully recorded, capturing in rich sound the various vocal and instrumental contributions.
David Hogan, National Film and Sound Archives
2009

Fred Smith is the most interesting folk musician working in Australia. In tune with the times, and prepared to reach beyond predictable folk formats, he is endlessly innovative and creative. He is also very funny
Bruce Elder, SMH 5.12.09