Discerning digger Bullion has put together a lovely mix in celebration of the 60s-70s Canterbury scene.

The loose assembly of bands and artists that comprised said scene brought together aspects of jazz, rock, folk and primitive electronics into a heady avant-pop hybrid, all shot through with a mixture of instrumental virtuosity and decidedly English brand of psychedelic whimsy. Crucially, they did it without lapsing into the self-indulgence and worthiness of the prog movement they would directly inspire. Bullion’s mix, available to stream via the link below, collects some of the best tracks to come out of the Canterbury explosion, including work from Robert Wyatt, Caravan, Gong and Fred Frith. We can’t think of a better soundtrack to this premature summer.


Download: Bullion – Canterbury mix


Tracklist:
01. Hatfield & The North – Aigrette / “Intellectual Exercise” Intro
02. Hatfield & The North – Shaving Is Boring
03. Hatfield & The North – The Other Stubbs Effect / “Captain Spillage” Interlude (David Allen)
04. Steve Hillage – Octave Doctors
05. Lady June – Everythingsnothing
06. Caravan – Be All Right
07. Caravan – Memory Lain, Hugh
08. Matching Mole – Instant Pussy
09. Robert Wyatt – Gharbzadegi
10. Gong – Radio Gnome Prediction (Intro) / And You Tried So Hard
11. Gong – Flying Teapot
12. Gong – Pot Head Pixies
13. Robert Wyatt – Age Of Self
14. Fred Frith – Carnival On Wall St / “Being Defined” Interlude (Fred Frith)
15. John Greaves – Salt
16. Gong – Shamal
17. Robert Wyatt – Stalin Wasn’t Stallin’
18. Caravan – No Back Stage Pass
19. Robert Wyatt – To Carla Marsha And Caroline / “Jolly Clever” Interlude (Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge)
20. The Soft Machine – Have You Ever Bean Green? / Pataphysical Introduction PT.1
21. Kevin Ayers – Goodnight Goodnight