In 1967, two Berlin rock bands got together and founded Agitation Free. After various line-up changes, a quintet was formed consisting of Lutz Ulbrich (guitar, zither, Hammond organ), Jörg Schwenke (guitar), Burghard Rausch (drums, marimba, vocals), Uli Pop (bongos), Michael Hoenig (synthesizer, steel guitar) and Michel Günther (bass). At the invitation of the Goethe-Institut, they travelled to the Middle East in April 1972. The musical impressions they gathered in Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus and Greece had a lasting influence on their first album Malesch. They recorded their debut in the summer of that same year at Audio Studios Berlin, with the support of guest musician Peter Michael Hamel (Hammond organ) and under the guidance of producers Wolfgang Sandner and Peter Strecker.

The album was released on 1 August 1972 on the progressive label Vertigo. Numerous tours in the following years made them famous throughout Europe with their hard-rocking guitar riffs and psychedelic keyboard effects, blended with ethnic influences from the Middle East. However, following their final album 2nd and a number of further tours and television appearances, the group disbanded in 1974. This unique blend of psychedelic, experimental Krautrock, enriched with elements of ambient, electronic and world music, is now regarded as a highlight of the Krautrock genre and is highly sought after by collectors worldwide.