Back in June The Orb announced the cancellation of the U.S. tour with no explanation. Fans were left wondering why. The reason, as it turns out, was due to the death of Andy Hughes. A producer, engineer and DJ, Hughes ended up working on tracks that never ended up being released to the public.

Here is one such track.

This was dug up by gel-sol, a former label mate of Andy Hughes when they were both associated with em:t records. The track does not have a name, nor is it know what this track was intended for. From what is know the production was unfinished but was in production back in 2005.

The track is very, very good. Sad to see it never had a release.

I now understand why The Orb had to call off their North American tour.

I’m sad to hear that long time Orb collaborator, DJ and producer, Andy Hughes, has passed away at the age of 44. No major details have been released, but it looks as if he had a short lived sickness that focused on his liver. A donation fund was established at King’s College Hospital.

A copy of his obit can be found at Synthtopia.

My thoughts are with Andy’s family and friends.