After studying the classical guitar and the piano as a child, in the 1960s Kitajima was a member of his cousin Yūzō Kayama's band The Launchers. After graduating from Keio University,
and already a successful composer of TV and advertising jingles, he
moved for one year to the UK in 1971, which brought him in to contact
with British folk and psychedelic rock. Inspired in particular by The Beatles, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Syd Barrett,
he dubbed himself as 'Justin Heathcliff' (picked for its
English-sounding quality) and issued his lone eponymous album. Released
only in Japan, the album became highly prized in collector's circles for
its good-natured idiosyncrasy and casual melodicism.
The album is a really great psychedelic pop folk work and i highly recommend it.Before i googled the artist after listening to his music i haven't known he is an asian musician. However, don't miss it if you like Barrett Beatles Bolan influenced psychedelic pop folk sounds with great melodies.
Frank
pass: SB1
