True Techno

Cisco Ferreira aka The Advent is a true legend of the techno scene. The young Portuguese Cisco discovered Acid House when he started clubbing in London in the 80s and since then his life's goal has been about making his mark on the electronic music scene. Or, as he put it himself: “I’ve been doing this for quite a few years and I’m not going anywhere.” This sums it up pretty well. You won’t see him naked, shooting promo videos, carrying a dog, or publicly worrying about the sincerity of the average EDM jockey. He’s everything about techno you’ve learned to love, without the circus.

Fresh out of college, Cisco’s hunger for sound landed him a job as assistant sound-engineer in several recording studios. There he learned about the art of translating feelings to frequencies, while at the same time recording various high profile artists from the world of Rock, Pop, Dance, and Reggae. When acid label ‘Jack Trax’ moved in next-door, Cisco started recording for the likes of Adonis, Fingers Inc, Marshall Jefferson, and Derrick May. These rendezvous sparked the inspiration for his first EPs on R&S and Fragile.

In 1994 Ferreira signed a record deal for 12 EPs and 3 albums together with Colin McBean. This was the beginning of an era during which the duo set a worldwide standard for high quality underground Electro and Techno. They hit the world with a refreshing sound, both as The Advent, and ‘G Flame (Cisco) and Mr G’, the alias Colin is still using. Nowadays The Advent is a solo project, bombarding crowds around the world with its trademark raw, energetic sound. After playing after festival and event during his tenure imaginable, we are truly honoured to welcome him to the series.

The Advent | True Techno Podcast 61

Advent – A coming, or an arrival, a coming into being or use. 

Quite an appropriate name for Cisco Ferreira, a man who has played a big part in the creation and development of Techno from the very beginning of this genre’s history. Indeed, his Techno CV is the stuff of legend. Cisco was producing Techno and performing live Techno shows years before the rest of the world had even heard of the genre. He released his first track in 1988, was a pioneer of the Live PA (or Live Public Address – performing Techno live in front of an audience using electronic music gear), and, if all that wasn’t enough, he even worked as the sound engineer on some of Derrick May’s, Adonis & Fingers Inc’s recording sessions! 

The list goes on, and so does Cisco. Unlike other Techno pioneers from the early years, Cisco continues to produce with as much passion and frequency as he did back in the day. His releases on Labels Like Tresor, Rotation, Electrix, Kanzleramt, Dj Gigolos, Pure Plastic, Synewave plus many more is just another example of his ongoing pursuit to keep making music and pushing Techno to new boundaries. 

Cisco was born to Portuguese parents on the island of Madeira (Portugal). His family moved to London (1975) when he was five years old, setting the stage for his musical career. While at Paddington College (1986) in West London, he studied sound engineering and secured a job after graduation as an assistant sound engineer at ZOLOU Then later WALL Studios.  

At this period is when he really started to learn about Sound & Production, his 1st main recording sessions as an engineer were rock & “Inde” based bands & the studio owners being in successful rock bands. Matt Dangerfield & John Payne “ASIA” this 1st step was a start in learning about balancing & mixing down the rock way, which had a lot of intense & Raw energy especially on drums & Guitars.. 

Other bands Cisco did sessions for: P.I.L. (John Lydon - sex pistols) – Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) – That petrol emotion. Then Later Pop, Dance, Soul & reggae groups like: Wild Bunch (Nelly hopper & Massive Attack) – Marco Pirroni (Adam & the ants) - Maxi Priest – Sly Dunbar (Sly & Robbie) – Loose Ends – Cheryl Lynn… 

1987 Cisco began going to clubs and learning about this new thing called Acid House, which was spreading like crazy throughout London’s underground scene, culminating in the famous “Summer of Love” in 1988, the genre’s golden period. 

Around this time, a record label called, Jack Trax, “One of the 1st to release Acid House, House & techno in UK” moved in next door and began using the same studio for recording sessions, with Cisco as the engineer working with Fingers Inc, Adonis, Marshall Jefferson & Derrick May. Cisco released his first record in 1988 on Ferrari records (R&S records) Then later “Cisco Ferreira” EP on Fragile. 

His first big break came in 1994, when he and fellow Londonite Colin McBean (a.k.a. Mr. G) were brought on by Internal Records to help co-produce a group called Salt Tank. A record contract with Internal/FFRR soon followed, committing The Advent to 12 EP’s and 3 albums.

Today, The Advent goes on just as Cisco Ferreira. While he has had a long history with tons of accomplishments to hang his hat on, he continues to make history. The Advent is fulfilling Cisco’s vision as much as ever. He is busy touring as both a DJ and a live performer, producing for numerous labels, and running his own Techno imprint, Kombination Research. 

As Cisco moves forward, striving to fulfill the ambitious goals he has set one can look back at his storied past and see how he has come full circle… The Saga continues.

True Techno

The Advent / G Flame