Aural Imbalance

Aural Imbalance

Aural Imbalance is the solo project of Simon Huxtable, a producer from Torquay. He begins producing music in 1997, initially working with fellow producer Dave Parkinson before developing his own studio for solo work.

Early releases and collaborations

Huxtable first records with Parkinson under the name Innervations, with a debut release on Cadence Recordings, a local atmospheric drum and bass label. The pair also work as TQ-One, and some of their tracks are signed to Ascendant Grooves in 1998. Huxtable’s first solo release is the Secret Sense EP on Cadence Recordings in 1998, while he continues to produce with Parkinson for Phatt Phunk and Ascendant Grooves.

During this period, his work becomes known for an atmospheric approach that emphasises soundscapes and ambience over the harder-edged style common in drum and bass at the time. He also records under the names Equation of State, Concentric Flow and Deep Space Organisms, working with other producers on the scene.

Albums, labels and stylistic range

Cadence Recordings releases Different Perspective in 2000, an album that brings together collaborations and original Aural Imbalance tracks. The record receives a strong response in the drum and bass scene and in music press coverage. Around this time, Huxtable broadens his output beyond drum and bass into house and breaks.

His first house release appears on Within Records in 2000, leading to six further releases on the label, including collaborative material and the Intuition album, issued as a double 12-inch vinyl package and a mixed CD compilation. He also has four releases on Deep Space Recordings, mainly as Deep Space Organisms.

Support from DJs and later projects

Huxtable’s music gains support from DJs including John Digweed, Nick Warren, Sasha and John Digweed. Nick Warren includes Aural Imbalance track Aural Navigation Part 2 on the Rekjavik release for Global Underground, and a Deep Space Organisms remix appears on John Digweed’s Layered Sounds album. His tracks also feature in sets on Kiss FM.

In 2004 he starts Digital Dub Corporation with Jahkbass and Tim Black. The project uses live bass recordings and other recorded sounds and samples, and combines dub influences with digital electronica across slower dub tracks and more energetic house and drum and bass pieces.

Remixes, digital releases and performances

In 2005 Huxtable focuses on solo work and remixes tracks for Nemos, Café Audio, Jacob Todd and Kelly Noland, and Acropod. Some of these appear on compilation releases, including Nick Warren’s Shanghai on Global Underground. He also works with the online store elusivesounds.com, where his tracks regularly appear among the month’s most downloaded releases after the site launches in 2005.

He performs DJ sets at Glastonbury Festival and The Glade Festival, and plays in Athens and Crete as a guest of the Greek label Klik Records. He also has remix work on the Nemos album Tulevikutee and on a forthcoming Acropod album for Klik Records, while also working on a new album project and additional drum and bass digital releases for Tidals Invection and Cadence Digital.