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The Guest List: Pete Herbert's 10 supremely blissful sunset essentials
The Balearic disco Maestro shares his soundtrack to a blissed-out Bali sundown
When it comes to the task of providing the perfect soundtrack to usher in a sunset, there can be few contenders more adept than legendary UK disco producer, Pete Herbert.
Pete's name is synonymous with the world of Balearic disco, where he's been a prolific player in the scene in recent years as both DJ and producer. He's played his feel-good sound all over the world, and has consistently released wonderful music on the very best labels, including Eskimo, Nang, Leng, Disco Deviance, and Midnight Riot, as well as being one half of revered production duo Reverso 68 alongside Phil Mison. Until recently he worked as music director and resident DJ at Desa Potato Head in Bali, and as such was responsible for shaping a key ingredient of what makes the flagship beach club so special – not least during the magical few hours either side of the sun dipping below the horizon line each evening. Currently, Pete curates and runs the free Music For Swimming Pools streaming site, where listeners can immerse themselves 24/7 in horizontal sounds.
We asked Pete to share a top ten of picks for an August Bali sunset, as well as tell us a little something about why each tune made the cut. He dutifully filled us in on a hot-off-the-press selection of supremely blissful music, as cerebral as it is soulful. Of course, for now it will have to be an imaginary sundown session, but push play on this list and let the music transport you to a balmy, palm-lined ocean side...
1 Cantoma ‘Closer’ Apiento Remix
Title: Closer (Apiento remix)
Artist: Cantoma
Label: Highwood
Recordings
Release: Out now, you can buy it here
"Superb, slow building, bass heavy Apiento version."
2 Falle Nioke & Ghost Culture 'Barké'
Title: Barké
Artist: Falle Nioke & Ghost Culture
Label: PRAH
Recordings
Release: Out now, you can buy it here
"Stunning vocals from Falle of Guinea West Africa over some lo-fi electronics. All the tracks on his Youkounkoun EP are worth checking out."
3 Reinhard Vanbergen ‘Blast From The Past’
Title: Reinhard
Vanbergen
Artist: Blast From The Past
Label: Music For Dreams
Release: Out now, you can buy it here
"Lead singer from Reinzand, Reinhards solo track is pure soundtrack joy."
4 James Bright ‘Shinrinyoku’
Title: Shinrinyoku
Artist: James Bright
Label: Quattro Music
Release: Out now, you can buy it here
"The whole Betamax EP is a highlight of the summer for me, this track in particular.
5 Jex Opolis 'Khamels Theme'
Title: Khamels Theme
Artist: Jex Opolis
Label: Jex Opolis Bandcamp
Release: Out now, you can buy it here
"Jex replayed this lush keys number from the Pelican Brief film, then eventually tracked down the original writer for approval... he said yes."
6 In flagranti ‘Ideas For Planning Your New Home’
Title: Ideas For Planning Your New Home
Artist: In Flagranti
Label: Codek
Release: Out now, you can buy it here
"A superb twist on New Order vocals."
7 Daniel Avery 'Into The Arms Of Stillness'
Title: Into The Arms Of Stillness
Artist: Daniel Avery
Label: Phantasy Sound
Release: Out now, you can buy it here
"A near beatless, perfect moment from his new album."
8 Bill Mango ‘Inflight sample’
Title: Bill Mango
Artist: Inflight Sample
Label: Mango
Release: Out now, you can buy it here
9 Fatima Al Qadiri ‘Ada and Souleiman’
Title: Ada and Souleiman
Artist: Fatima Al Qadiri
Label: Milan
Release: Out now, you can buy it here
"From the Atlantics Movie, Al Qadiri’s whole soundtrack is spot on, full of sparse dark, bubbling atmospherics."
10 Simple Minds 'Someone, Somewhere In Summertime’ (Pete Herbert version)
Title: Someone, Somewhere In Summertime (Pete Herbert version)
Artist: Simple Minds
Label:
La
Dame Noir
Release: Out now, you can buy it here
"My Balearic take on a childhood favourite, now available digitally."
Thank you so much for a fantastic chart, Pete Herbert!
