Album review: SMITH & LIDDLE – Songs For The Desert

Legere Recordings [Release date 31.10.25]

There must be something in the air at the moment, or at least this year. We’ve had excellent albums from Morganway, First Time Flyers, and now Smith & Liddle. The connecting theme is melodic classic pop rock with a rootsy/country undertow.

Smith & Liddle are Billy Smith and Elizabeth Liddle who combined forces in 2024 when Billy was looking for a vocalist.

The vibe on this album is unashamedly retro with some great songs and playing.

Opener ‘Piece Of You’ showcases the duo’s fine harmonies that could have come straight from the West Coast c.1971 replete with jangly guitars. They actually hail from the north-east coast (UK).

Several tunes are inevitably going to draw comparisons with mid-seventies Fleetwood Mac such as ‘Eyes On You’, ‘Stay A While’ and ‘Minute Ago’. In fact pretty much everything.

This might be a minor niggle: it’s an album that is a product of certain influences rather than pushing the envelope. But there’s time for that. With so much talk about AI recycling our musical heritage real life artists have surely to offer something different? In this example, and to stay period authentic, at least Smith & Liddle recorded everything using analogue techniques.

‘New Day’ reminds a little of a more jaunty Chris Rea (‘On The Beach’) whilst one of the standouts is ‘In A Haze’. Like much of the stuff on the album it seems the duo get a lot of their inspiration writing in the kitchen.

It would be a great shame if this album slipped through the cracks. Watch out for live dates and go lend your support. ****1/2

Review by David Randall

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