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The Free Design
Kites Are Fun
*** 3 Stars
Heaven/Earth
*** 3 Stars
The first and third albums by rediscovered pioneers of '60s soft pop.
Similar to The Mamas & The Papas, New York's Dedrick siblings (two brothers, two sisters), benefited from the production skills of stereo pioneer Enoch Light. But despite releasing a string of original radio friendly easy listening pop songs, The Free Design failed to breach the Billboard charts. Today, their influence on the likes of Belle & Sebastian and Stereolab is easy to spot: sweet melodies and clean harmonies coupled with strange '60s arrangements and effects. 1967's Kites Are Fun is innocent and frisky, but by 1969's Heaven/Earth they appear to have discovered an edge, their cover of George and Ira Gershwin's Summertime even featuring an exe solo. - Johnny Dee
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