Thomas Fehlmann
b. Switzerland. An elder statesman of the German techno/house scene, with an intriguing history. Fehlmann originally met guitar wizard Robert Fripp in Hamburg in 1979, where he was studying art, and it was Fripp who inspired him to learn the synthesiser. Later he would make the acquaintance of the Orb's Alex Paterson while working on Teutonic Beats, a mid-80s dance project. Paterson tried to sign him to management company EG, but the deal fell through. Undeterred, the two remained firm friends. Before joining the Orb as an ambient DJ and electronics consultant, he recorded as Readymade and produced the SUN ELECTRIC LP, joining with the Juan Atkins for the release of Jazz Is The Teacher on Belgian imprint, Tresor (licensed to Novamute in the UK). This was recorded under the group name 3MB, with Morris Von Oswald, an old friend whom he had known from the time they liaised on Palais Schaumburg's third album from a decade previously. They have worked together intermittently since. His contributions to the Orb also include Towers Of Dub on the latter's live double, Orb Live 93. Following touring commitments, he teamed up once more with old guru Fripp to put together the ad hoc project, FFWD (Fripp, Fehlmann, Weston and Dr Alex Paterson). According to the latter, Fehlmann had also been ‘the first person to put a house record out in Britain in 1986’—as Ready Made on Rhythm King.