Pete Herbert gathers two decades of travel, residencies and musical memories into “Far Flung”, a nine-track Balearic journey that moves naturally from early-evening warmth to deeper, more reflective closing moments.
Few UK artists have carried the Balearic spirit as consistently as Pete Herbert. Across a three-decade career, the DJ, producer and remixer has developed a distinctive sound shaped by disco, house, dub and the slower, more atmospheric edges of electronic music. His years as Music Director at Potato Head Beach Club in Bali, alongside the wider Music For Swimming Pools project, have only strengthened that connection between music, place and mood.
“Far Flung” brings together nine pieces conceived and inspired by Herbert’s travels, encounters and experiences over the last twenty years. Rather than feeling like a simple collection of previously scattered ideas, the album unfolds as a cohesive sonic travelogue, with each track suggesting a different destination, time of day or emotional setting.
The album begins with “Early One Evening”, a fitting introduction to a record so closely tied to atmosphere and location. Its placement immediately establishes a relaxed, anticipatory mood, capturing that quiet point when the heat begins to soften and the evening starts to open up.
“Dear Hector” follows with a deeper, more dubbed-out Mediterranean character. Spacious production, subtle rhythmic detail and an unhurried groove allow the track to develop naturally, reflecting Herbert’s ability to create movement without forcing the pace.
The title track, “Far Flung”, sits at the centre of the first side and reinforces the album’s sense of distance and discovery. It feels representative of the wider project, drawing together Herbert’s love of warm electronics, understated percussion and melodies that suggest somewhere beyond the immediate horizon.
“Back To Bahia” brings the first side to an uplifting close. Loose, buoyant and full of movement, it is one of the album’s most immediately danceable moments. Its bubbling house groove carries a carefree energy while retaining the musical warmth that runs throughout the record.
The second side opens with “Havana Landing”, a track carrying clear inspiration from the classic Italian and Balearic house tradition associated with producers such as Don Carlos. Warm chords and an easy rhythmic flow create a sound that feels nostalgic without becoming overly reverential.
“Later That Night” shifts the atmosphere again. As its title suggests, there is a slightly darker and more nocturnal edge here, making it well suited to the moment when sundown listening gradually turns towards dancing. Herbert keeps the production controlled, allowing the mood to deepen without disturbing the album’s overall sense of ease.
“At Zuka” continues into more immersive territory, combining dub-influenced space with a distinctly Mediterranean feel. It is another example of Herbert’s strength in creating tracks that work through subtlety, with individual elements entering and receding rather than competing for attention.
“South Seas” provides a horizontal escape as the album approaches its conclusion. Dreamy, open and beautifully unhurried, it captures the poolside and beachside sensibility that has long defined the Music For Swimming Pools sound.
The closing track, “Legzira Sunrise”, completes the journey with dubbed-out downtempo rhythms and tender chords. Rather than ending with a dramatic flourish, Herbert allows the album to settle gently, creating the feeling of first light arriving after a long night.
That running order is central to the album’s success. “Far Flung” begins in the early evening, passes through deeper and more danceable territory, then gradually drifts towards sunrise. The result is a record that feels carefully sequenced rather than simply compiled.
Pete Herbert has created an album for many different moments: sunset gatherings, coastal drives, beach bars, late-night terraces and quiet mornings beside the water. Its strength lies not in dramatic peaks, but in its warmth, flow and ability to transport the listener.
Rich in atmosphere and shaped by a lifetime spent absorbing music from around the world, “Far Flung” is a beautifully realised addition to Pete Herbert’s extensive catalogue and another reminder of his enduring place within modern Balearic culture.
Tracklist:
Side 1
- Early One Evening
- Dear Hector
- Far Flung
- Back To Bahia
Side 2
- Havana Landing
- Later That Night
- At Zuka
- South Seas
- Legzira Sunrise
Release Date: Out Now, buy it here.
Label: Music For Swimming Pools
Format: Vinyl