Seeing The Orb in all their glory just last year at the Global Gathering festival, they’re still firmly impanted in our memories. As such, it was distressing today to hear the news that Andy Hughes – producer for electronic pioneers The Orb as well as Basement Jaxx – had passed away. Whilst such sad news was at first difficult to believe genuine, it has since been confirmed with a formal statement from The Orb’s agency in the United States, WME Entertainment.

ELECTRONIC MUSIC ENGINEER/PRODUCER GENIUS
ANDY HUGHES OF THE ORB SADLY PASSES AWAY ON FRIDAY 12TH JUNE 2009

Andy Hughes, electronic music producer/DJ who was born 11th November 1965 and, and who lived and grew up in Harrow, Middlesex, tragically passed away on Friday 12th June 2009 after a short illness.

Andy was a genius who gave so much inspiration and passion to all with his incredible work. He was loved by many aficionados of the trance/ambient genre, but will be especially remembered for his work with Alex Paterson and The Orb, most notably the album Orblivion and single Toxygene, which reached number 4 in the UK charts in 1997. Together with his musical partners Alex Patterson and former members Kris Weston, Simon Phillips and Thomas Fehlmann together with Nick Burton of Westworld fame, Andy created electronic and ambient/techno/house/dub masterpieces. These took him across the globe where he played to masses of fans in countries including the USA, Japan and Canada as well as a sell out concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 1998.

In 2000 he started producing music on his own and more recently produced music for artists such as Kovak and Basement Jaxx at their neighbouring studios in Brixton, London.

Andy was an incredibly doting and loving father who always made time for his children Gabriel and Circe and their father’s passing will leave a chasm in both their lives…

At just 44 years of age, Andy Hughes’ death is a tragic one, and his contributions and advancements to electronic music won’t be quickly forgotten.