Photo MAX ZERRAHN
When we last spoke to Thomas Fehlmann, the underground icon had just wrapped a return to the chill-out room with The Orb. Now that he’s walked away from his longtime partnership with Alex Paterson, the German producer is back with what he does best as a solo artist: the heady dance hooks of Los Lagos. With that in mind, we asked Fehlmann to submit a set of songs inspired by his love of lakes and water itself.
“Some of the following tracks reach back quite far into my musical socialization and others are fresh,” he explains. “They’re all poetic and soothing and belong to the inner core of my record collection.”
Stream everything via Spotify below—right alongside Fehlmann’s track-by-track commentary—or subscribe to his exclusive playlist here….
PAT METHENY – LAKES
This tune was obviously chosen because of its title, but I can’t help but love mister sugar strings on his second ECM record with Jaco Pastorius from the ’70s.
THOMAS FEHLMANN – SEEROSENGIESSEN
The title means “Watering the Water Lilys” in English. It’s taken from my first Kompakt album. I love the joys of using creative language, even though I make instrumental music.
MALARIA! VS CHICKS ON SPEED – KALTES KLARES WASSER (DJ KOZE & THE TEASE REMIX)
This loveable hunk of contemporary DJ culture reworks Malaria!’s classic from the early ’80s.
TLC – WATERFALLS
A secret favorite of mine to blush by. I think I heard it first on MTV. 😉
I went out and bought the 12” and had it on several Walkman tapes.
NEU! – WEISSENSEE
NEU! = LOVE = NEU!
NATALIE BERIDZE – FISHERMAN 2015
A poetic reflection on dramatic incidents in the Mediterranean Sea in 2015, when fishermen were confronted with refuges in small boats and helped get them to safer shores.
Natalie Beridze: always strongly recommended.
THE SEA AND CAKE – INTO RAIN
Been waiting for a chance to give props to The Sea and Cake. A humble, seasoned, underrated band from Chicago; Sam Prekop is one of the few singers that talk straight to my heart with his songs and voice.
HERBIE HANCOCK – WATER TORTURE
A masterpiece from the Crossing album. Part of a short-lived phase where Hancock worked in a strong collective creating a psychedelic, spiritual and courageous sound that was so much more than a backdrop for soloists. Featuring the great Patrick Gleason on modular synth.
JONI MITCHELL – BLUE
Does this belong in a water-themed list? Doesn’t matter. Joni Mitchell fits everywere.
THE ORB – OXBOX LAKES
My favorite from the Orbvs Terrarvm album. This was the last track I know of where Kris Weston and Alex Paterson worked really well together.
