In the late ‘60s, Canterbury was the place where progressive rock developed a uniquely whimsical melodicism. The story starts with The Wilde Flowers, a proto-prog group of jazz fans who were equally dazzled by the catchy possibilities of contemporary pop and the strangeness of psychedelia. Once the band split, former members formed two key groups: Soft Machine led the charge with their trancelike musical runs and fanciful lyrics, while Caravan introduced the glory of the English countryside to their idiosyncratic rock. This inspired bands such as Gong to write sky-dazzled fantasy pop songs in the vein of Kevin Ayers, or guileless social commentary with traces of Robert Wyatt. Elsewhere, Egg and Arzachel reinvigorated austere organ music with rock beats, while Steve Hillage and Mike Oldfield set a high bar by using the recording studio as a composition tool, weaving together disparate elements like traditional folk reels and spacey guitars.