Kites Are Fun: The Best Of The Free Design

 (12 customer reviews)

Okay... so I'm a youngin' who's ears are being blown away by contemporary artists exploring rich harmonies and subtle, yet thick arrangements (high llamas- for instance) and I'm browsing through the cd rack and see a band with the name, "The Free Design." I think, "Hmmm... that's the name of a single that was put out by one of my favorite bands just recently- I think I'll read the liner notes." Upon first glancing at the insert, the words "soft pop" jumped out at me. These guys were being credited with being a major influence in the soft pop movement coming out of the late 60's into the 70's- and I had NEVER heard of them before. Sure, many a child whose parents were grooving in those days has heard their share of Carpenters and a little Bacharach here and there- but this stuff is SO intricate in its harmonies and instrumentation yet SO innocent and sweet. I'm really not sure why this group is not as well known as some of their contemporaries...Read more

I just can't get enough of this CD. If you love the Carpenters. or the Fifth Dimension, Burt Bacharach, Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66...I think this album is something you'll dig. It's got gorgeous lush harmonies, quirky subject matter, and arrangements that are hilarious...but also full of genuine love and effort. The FreeDesign calls into being the true sounds of what it might be like to hang out with Puff the Magic Dragon, how it might feel to peruse and frolic in the candy gardens of Willie Wonka. They sound like a blanket by the calm sea, they feel like sun in your hair on a blustery spring day. When I listen to the Free Design, I feel cheerful, safe and inspired, and I hope you will too.

On the flipside of the 60's guitar-and-noise excess, you had the sharp, clear harmonies of groups like the Free Design. They we're arranging baroque-pop (like Bacharach and the Beach Boys) with Mama's and the Papa's like choral verses about simple, childlike topics (kites, Ouija boards). Hopelessly square - the music is much more at home in the 21st century where groups like Stereolab have muted jazz-pop into experimental ambient-pop (listen to "Dots and Loops" for obvious influences!) A must have for any music geek or audiophile into sessions.