Japanese fellow washes up in London at the arse end of the 60s. Takes on the vocal stylings of Kevin Ayers / Syd Barrett. Against all odds creates a pleasing confection of sunshine psych gems. Oh, and parts of it sound like Julian Cope after a 10000mg hit of saccharine.

Osamu Kitajima, never revisitied this territory again, and as the excellent Japper music resource at http://​music​.paullee​.ru/​j​a​p​a​n.htm tells us:

“His first album under his real name was the stunning ‘Benzaiten’ [Island (Japan)/Antilles (US), 1974, which is mostly instrumental psychedelic/progressive/experimental music incorporating traditional Japanese instruments, such as koto, biwa and shakuhachi. It varies between heavier electric sounds, including exotic jazz rock fusion and psychedelic rock and softer eastern psychedelic folk. Some of it sounds a bit like Brast Burn and Karuna Khyal, with less electronic experimentation involved and more musical skill. ”

He now runs a new age label — sigh.

Remember him like this.