Canterbury Trails by Duke of Burgundy & Casual Friends

About seven years ago I came up with the chorus to what would become the song "warm summer night"(and so it remained for another 6 years!). I was staying not far from Canterbury and my wife and i had just been to explore then ruins of St Augustines Abbey and what was the 60's Beehive Club, where legendary The Wilde Flowers played. (When this band split up Caravan, Gong, Soft Machine and others formed).

I had the idea of a concept album (in I hope a relaxed fashion) featuring stolen master tapes from a lost 1973 Wilde Flowers reunion and supernatural hauntings bringing in the Abbey. A couple of latter day Canterbury detectives would finally solve the mystery and restore musical and spiritual harmony to the city.

A few years earlier I'd hit a bit of musical lull and a friend passed me a copy of Caravan's 2nd album, its a great mix of jazz influenced psychedelic rock, which didn't take itself too seriously, also no drum solo's, thank you Caravan! I've seen the band many times since and this album is also a thanks to them for great gigs and inspiration. A newer band from the same city, Syd Arthur, also inspired me, their "Nobody's Fault But My Own" song especially.

I'd like to thank my "casual friends" who've helped me make this album, without them I think it would exist mainly in my mind and to my wife's mum Lyn, who we were visiting when the first notes loosely came together.

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