The Habibiyya

UK acoustic psych prog 5-piece active in the early 1970s. In late 1971 Chris Blackwell of Island Records offered a contract to Roger Powell and Ian Whiteman (both former Mighty Baby) to make an album with maximum creative freedom. After a trip to Morocco, which had a profound influence on their musical, religious and spiritual aspects, the two were joined by Mike Evans (also former Mighty Baby) and a couple of American musicians, and, from Mendocino, CA. Equipped with various exotic instruments, the quintet recorded some tracks at Island Studios during the summer of 1972 for an album that was released in October of the same year. Their music is a fascinating mix of sounds from Western North Africa, progressive and scented lysergic moods. Immediately after the release of their lone LP the group embarked on an American tour but, despite the proposal of a second album, they eventually decided to split up.