In today’s Daily Disc, we look at The Free Design and their iconic debut album Kites are Fun!
The Free Design emerged from New York in the late 1960s, establishing themselves …as a distinctive vocal harmony group. Their intricate arrangements and bright, melodic sensibilities helped define the sound retroactively known as Sunshine Pop. Beneath the bubbly feel-good surface, however, there are interesting complex harmonies and rhythms at play that connect to jazz and the emerging progressive rock.
In today’s Daily Disc, we look at The Free Design and their iconic debut album Kites are Fun!
The Free Design emerged from New York in the late 1960s, establishing themselves …as a distinctive vocal harmony group. Their intricate arrangements and bright, melodic sensibilities helped define the sound retroactively known as Sunshine Pop. Beneath the bubbly feel-good surface, however, there are interesting complex harmonies and rhythms at play that connect to jazz and the emerging progressive rock.
Kanawha Music Race-Runner: vintage analog phaser | #Knobcon 2026
Chris Nagorka from West Virginia-based Kanawha Music and Art demonstrates the Race-Runner analog phaser module live at Knobcon 2026. The Race-Runner is a recreation of the analog phaser from …a 1970s Crumar electric piano.
Mike Sisk from Siskworks demonstrates the Capstan SM, a unique tape loop synthesizer prototype, at Knobcon 2026. One can think of it as a “poor man’s Mellotron”.
This instrument uses …a physical tape loop to create sound. There are five note buttons, each with a trigger and independent speed knob for the motor. Additionally, there are several available effects via a built-in microprocessor. There is even a sequencer that can drive the cassette loop.