Habibi - Anywhere But Here - Vinyl Record

Habibi are venturing into the unknown. While their self-titled debut combined the Colgate-white glisten of sixties-girl-group pop with an uncensored edge, their sophomore album responds to a current global climate of unease, weaving colourful 60's refrains with moodier, more expansive sonic textures. Anywhere but Here was created with Alex Epton in the XL Recordings studios with the ability to flesh out sounds and nuances which deepened the band's creative chemistry, a far shout from the DIY 20-somethings musicians-in-the-making who recorded in each other's bedrooms. With time on their side, Habibi were able to experiment with instruments like the 12-string guitar, ney flute, vibraphone and sitar, and call back previous collaborators such as tombak percussionist Yahya Alkhansa, adding Middle Eastern flourishes that continue to tell the story of their history and heritage.