Known as part of
The Advent and as a label owner of Kombination Research, Cisco Ferreira is famous for a rough and shuffling techno style with regular excursions into the field of Detroit-ish electro. Soon after leaving school, Ferreira began working as an engineer at Jack Trax Records, a job which enabled him to glimpse first-hand the work of such auteurs as Derrick May and Marshall Jefferson. He began recording in 1988 with C.J. Bolland as Space Opera (eventually releasing four singles for R&S Records) and also recorded the first single for Fragile ("Why Don't You Answer" as himself) before meeting Colin McBean, a top DJ who had worked with Keith Franklin of Bang the Party as the DJ team KCC.
The pair began recording together in 1990; their first activity was an engineering job for Fade to Black (a.k.a. Jay Denham), but later they debuted on vinyl with their first single, recorded for inclusion on a sampler by Network Records. The official debut of
The Advent came in 1994, just after Ferreira signed to Internal Records (also the home of Orbital). He convinced McBean to join him in the recording of a series of crucially limited singles, then the debut Advent album 'Elements of Life' in late 1995. Critics championed the duo's energetic update of original techno renegades like Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, and The Advent followed with the remix album Shaded Elementz one year later. Their second proper album 'A New Beginning' appeared in 1997, though Internal Records dropped the duo soon after its release. After transferring to the Metalbox division of Northwest/BMG,
The Advent returned later that year with 'Kombination Phunk', which alternated remixes with several original productions. In 1999, McBean left, citing his reluctance to continue touring, though he continued to record under his solo alias, G Flame and Mr. G. Ferreira continued his busy release schedule, including a 12" series ('Sound Sketch"') for
Tresor during 1998-2000, and the 2002 full-length 'Sketched for Life'. Colin McBean left the group prior to the album 'Time Trap Technik' on Gigolo Records (2001).