Light Fantastic

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday January 22, 2005

Bernard Zuel

Rediscover sparkling pop from a sunny era.

Pop

THE FREE DESIGN

You Could Be Born Again and Stars/Time/Bubble/Love

(Light In The Attic/Creative Vibes)

THE WONDERMINTS

Mind If We Make Love to You

(Rev-Ola/Didgeridoo)

While other parts of the music world were discovering psychedelic, heavy or country rock in the late '60s, there was a concurrent flood of fabulous multi-vocal groups for whom pop music still had wonders to explore. Some, such as the Mamas and the Papas, the Fifth Dimension, the Association and the Turtles, were chart favourites. Others, such as the the Zombies and the Beach Boys, faded from view. And some, such as the Free Design, never broke through.

The Free Design could still be thrown aside today as lightweight MOR. But this would be snobbery, particularly if you are a fan of modern pop-with-twists acts such as Stereolab, Belle and Sebastian, Manitoba and Cornelius.

On these re-issued albums, check out the vocal arrangements first. They can twist you around just when you think you've nailed them. Then, there are the many disarmingly easy melodies. Sure it's nearly cheesy, but it's often excellent, too.

Although they're best known now as the Beach Boys fanatics who form the core of Brian Wilson's fabulous band, the Wondermints also draw freely from the likes of the Free Design. Naturally, there are many moments which could be out-takes from the Beach Boys' Friends or 20/20 albums (Ride and Another Way, in particular).

But tracks such as On the Run and Out of Mind have the same pomp and bursts of sunniness; Shine on Me, If I Were You and Project 11 glisten with down-key melodies and Time Has You has a California afternoon ambience.

Both the Free Design and the Wondermints are a celebration of what you can do with a love of pop music.