Marvin Ayres is a british composer / cellist / violinist and producer. He has composed and recorded a diverse selection of minimalist albums, incorporating spatial soundscapes and psycho-acoustics and latterly 5.1 Surround Sound. He has also produced a number of film soundtracks.
“Like some of Eno’s best work, the atmospheres Ayres creates are also compelling pieces of music that can dominate and transport.” All About Jazz .[1]
“A serious and thoughtful composer.” The Wire [2]
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After graduating from Trinity College of Music , Marvin Ayres toured extensively with his own bands as songwriter, singer and violinist. Ayres also made solo contributions and arrangements to bands and artists throughout the late '80s and '90s, including members of Culture Club, Simply Red and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.[3]
In 1999 he was signed to the avant-garde label Mille Plateaux as composer/producer, and released two minimalist albums, Cellosphere and Neptune to critical acclaim.
Excerpts of these works have been performed live in an array of forums such as: London’s ‘Festival of Electonica,’ (with Groove Armada’s Patrick Dawes). [4] and the inter-media cutting edge event 'Sprawl'.
His reputation as producer and performer came to the attention of Jaki Liebezeit (ex CAN), who invited him to re-mix tracks and tour with Liebezeit's band Club off Chaos in early 2001. Ayres is currently commissioned by Einstürzende Neubauten's electronica music publishers Freibank, and his compositions have been featured on five of Freibank's 'For Films' albums.
Eccentric Deliquescence was released in 2008 as a CD and limited edition 5.1 surround sound DVD.[5]
In addition to his work with musicians, Ayres also collaborates with visual artists on audio/visual installations, which have been exhibited in international galleries and art houses.[6][7] In 2000, the prestigious ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) in London commissioned him and film maker Pete Gomes to compose and produce their first ever DVD exhibition.[7] The two works resulting from this were 'Sensory' and 'Cycle', incorporating spatial soundscapes and psycho acoustics [8] and were composed specifically for 5.1 Surround Sound.[9]
Marvin was interviewed about his composition and music in the 2010 documentary 'In Search of Sound' which won the best documentary award at the London Underground Film Festival. It is being screened in an ongoing programme of international film festivals.[10]
Marvin Ayres' ongoing project producing and collaborating with Sonja Kristina (ex–Curved Air) is called MASK.[11]
Their 2006 hit single 'Waking The Dream [12] ' came from their debut dual-disc album 'Heavy Petal'. In 2010 MASK released their second Album 'Technopia' on Rare /Repertoire Records.
Marvin produced and performed two tracks (Melinda and Elfin Boy) on the 2008 Curved Air album 'Reborn'. Three MASK tracks were included as bonus tracks on the 2010 anthology of Curved Air's work 'Retrospective'.