Original released on LP Project 3 PR 5019 SD
(US, December 1967)
It is obvious that "Kites Are Fun" is, and has always been, the most famous Free Design album. Perhaps it comes as no surprise that it is the last one that I get to know. Things are often going reversely in my parallel universe. Actually, I even didn't have very high expectations, because the average quality of the five tracks that I knew beforehand ("Kites Are Fun", "My Brother Woody", "Never Tell the World", "A Man and a Woman" and "Stay Another Season") was not exceptionally high. I mean, I like all of those more or less, but there are many better tracks in the catalogue of The Free Design in my opinion: "You Be You and I'll Be Me", "My Very Own Angel", "Bubbles", "Butterflies Are Free", "I'm a Yogi", "One by One", "The Symbols Ring" et cetera. But, "Kites Are Fun" is very good. "Make the Madness Stop" and "The Proper Ornaments" are excellent little songs, while "When Love Is Young", "Don't Turn Away" and "Umbrellas" at least equal "My Brother Woody." I was a little bit scared of hearing the covers, but just like "A Man and a Woman", those (especially "Michelle") contain enough artistic personality to make it all worthwhile. Of course, the result is not one of the most solid and cohesive albums on earth, but then again, none of The Free Design albums is. Recommended. (in RateYourMusic)
