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The Habibiyya, "If Man But Knew"
In 1971, members of UK group Mighty Baby and a few Californian friends made visits to Fez and Meknes that left a profound and lasting impression. Converting to Sufism upon their return to London, they recorded and released an album as The Habibiyya, or the followers of spiritual teacher Muhammad ibn al-Habib. The resulting music disarms expectation with its reverence, beauty, and sincerity.
The back story, as detailed in the liner notes, is fascinating in its own right though too convoluted to get into here. Yet it's not important when listening to the music itself. While much of the Moroccan music that had so impressed the group has its historical roots in Andalusian Spain, the group use whatever instruments they have at hand for this recording, including shakuhachis, hand drums, zithers, mandola, flute, banjo, oboe, and viola. This uncommon mixture makes for a unique and pleasant listening experience.
The musicians fasted for three days prior to recording, and then they began each session with an hour of meditation. Their methods paid off, for the music is clear and stunning in their attempts to channel the divine. Using no overdubs, drums often set the tone while the other instruments swirl around them in distinct layers. Tranquil but never boring, these songs are enchanting spiritual explorations that reach to trance-inducing heights. While several songs are instrumentals, when the group does sing, their harmonies are a transcendent pleasure. Further entwining themselves with Ibn al-Habib, the lyrics they sing are actually the master's own words.
The original LP contained six songs, but on this first-ever CD appearance, five more tracks from the same sessions are included. It's hard to see why some of them weren't included on the original released, especially "Peregrinations" and its stunning successor, "Peregrinations Continued." Unlike many reissues that offer bonus tracks, there's no drop in quality here.
No mere dilettantism, this is devout music made by serious adherents of the Sufic order. Although The Habibiyya made no more recordings together, the one they did make is a gorgeous document that still sounds vital and relevant today.
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