Upon returning to the UK, Duff released his first solo album Luxury Problems (2005), produced by Adrian Utley of Portishead and Alex Lee (Goldfrapp/ Placebo / Suede / Strangelove).

In 2009, Duff began work on his second solo album, The Mad Straight Road, a collection of 12 songs which he describes as "a synthesis of some of the music that has shaped my life – stuff like Disney soundtracks, The Beatles, The Kinks, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave and Johnny Cash – it all went right into the heart of me and came back sounding like this".

The album features, alongside Duff, a host of acclaimed musicians, including drummer Damon Reece of Massive Attack, pianist John Baggott (of Robert Plant's Sweet Sensation, Massive Attack and Portishead), Phantom Limb's bass player Dan Brown (who also provided backing vocals) and pianist Dan Moore, members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Alex Lee, who plays the bowed saw on "Dead Man Singing".

Warmly received by fans and critics,[2] Duff then proceeded to tour extensively throughout the UK, and Europe, appearing more frequently on radio shows, and in magazine articles.

The music video[3] for the title track is a call back to The Mad Straight Road, where in the sophomore album's imagery, Patrick is photographed setting fire to his possessions in the woods.

[4] A promotional video featuring passages read from the book was shot by French film maker Sébastien Faits-Divers, in Glastonbury Abbey where Duff is the artist in residence.