Sean over at 3hive posted this on Tuesday, but just incase you missed it or don’t read 3hive (and I have to question why you wouldn’t (they’re one of the inspirations behind iPod Nirvana)), I thought I’d post it here, too.

Light in the Attic Records has been doing re-issues of the obscure 60’s-70’s psych-pop band The Free Design for a few years now. It’s an endeavor which merits them some kind of award, in my book. The sound of The Free Design is pure melodic bliss. I think I would describe it as the sound of God’s angels if they were to sing pop. The reasons for the band’s obscurity will always be a mystery to anyone who gives them a listen. That they never obtained the notoriety or acclaim of their contemporaries, The Beach Boys or The Association, is a bit of an injustice, especially given that they had far more talent and imagination.

Even in their obscurity, though, they managed to influence many of the great dream-pop bands of today like Stereolab and Belle & Sebastion, and thanks to Light in the Attic’s latest release, you can now hear that influence directly.

Alongside the re-issues, the label has been releasing a three volume series of vinyl-only 12″s called “The Free Design Redesigned” that feature remixes and reinterpretations by the likes of Danger Mouse, Madlib, Belle & Sebastian, Stereo Lab, Nobody, Super Furry Animals, and a whole lot more. Now that the three volume set is complete, they have released the entirety along with interludes by Nobody, and 3 new tracks on CD, and have dubbed it, “The Now Sound Redesigned.”

But the good news doesn’t stop there. Light in the Attic have also been so kind as to release 2 of the songs as free MP3s. Pretty cool, huh? Give these a listen. They’re pretty damn amazing.

• Mellow: Kites are Fun
• Kid Koala & Dynomite D.: An Elegy

The CD is available at the Light in the Attic site for only $10.00.