Saturday Music from the Bizarre

In THE FUTURIST!'s CD collection is a copy of the Warner Archives recording of FEELIN' GROOVY: THE BEST OF HARPERS BIZARRE, a compilation of the group's most scintillating sounds. THE FUTURIST! first heard the sounds of Harpers Bizarre when seeing the opening credits of a heavily edited version of William Friedkin's film THE BOYS IN THE BAND on television as a THE YOUNG FUTURIST!; their rendition of the Cole Porter tune ANYTHING GOES plays over the visuals as different characters in the film are introduced. They have this dreamy conservative sound that tonally resembles THE ASSOCIATION or FREE DESIGN. The group performed Randy Newman pieces, the work of Van Dyke Parks and Harry Nilsson. Their sound was referred to as Sunshine Pop or Baroque Pop. When you hear them you are reminded of clean cut choirboys playing a sardonic musical game with their repertoire; there seems to be a smirk in their sunny style and a feeling of nostalgic sadness tempered by aural bliss.

Listen:


COME TO THE SUNSHINE
performed by Harpers Bizarre