Although his tent has been pitched in the Americana camp he's a very British songwriter who on the evidence of this latest album and especially on tracks such as Fear Of Lightning has more in common with Teenage Fanclub than the likes of usual comparisons Neil Young and Evan Dando. Lyrically he's never been tempted to stray from matters close to home and as a result he's been praised for the sucinct authenticity of his past five albums and Ghost In A Spitfire is no exception - its very title betraying a theme rarely found amongst his western peers.

The bulk of the songs were written by Peter and Candian writing partner Bill Ritchie before his recent tour of the UK with Kathleen Edwards and the album was recorded by Brutnell and Sterephonics producer Jim Lowe in a variety of locations: his own guitars and vocals were laid down at his home in Devon while Mick Clunes's drums and former Black Grape member Danny Williams's bass were all recorded in a converted barn in Yorkshire. In addition long time collaborator James Walbourne's lead guitar were nailed in north London and Son Volt's Eric Heywood recorded his pedal steel on Little Lorelai and Polar Bear Jail in his Shepherds Bush hotel room while on a break touring with Minnie Driver.