- (This page also refers to Freeform, the techno act of Cisco Ferreira and Colin McBean. For the IDM music act of the same name, see Freeform).
The Advent is a British techno electronic music act. It was founded in 1993 by Cisco Ferreira and Colin McBean. 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 artists 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 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 (aka 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 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 full album New Beginning was released 28 April 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 another remix album titled Kombination Phunk, which alternated remixes with several original productions.
In 1999, McBean left the group prior to the album Time Trap Technik, citing his reluctance to continue touring, though he continued to record under his solo alias Mr. G. Ferreira continued his busy release schedule, including a 12" series (Sound Sketchez) for Tresor during 1998–2000, and the 2002 double CD Sketched for Life. He also produced some more dancefloor oriented material under his alias G Flame, previously used together with Colin McBean under the alias G Flame & Mr. G on Phoenix G Records and Metalbox Records, while they were still together as The Advent.
Links to Peel[]
Peel played tracks from the act between the mid 90's and early 00's, under their various names such as Freeform and the Subjective. He nominated The Advent's single, 'Sketched For Life', as one of his records of the month for October 2002 (Peel's Record Box).
Shows Played[]
- 21 January 1995: Unknown Freakquencies (12") Internal
- 27 October 1995: Mad Dog (12" - Manipulate) Internal (part of Dave Clarke's mix)
- 02 November 2000: Sketch Marks (12" - 3rd Sketch) Tresor
- 18 December 2001: Sketch Up’s (LP – Annex 4) Tresor
- 10 January 2002 (Radio Eins): Sketch Ups (v/a album - Annex 4) Tresor
- 17 October 2002: Inn Touch (EP - Sketched For Life) Tresor
- 22 October 2002: Keep It Under (LP - Sketched For Life) Tresor
- 31 October 2002 (Radio Eins): Keep It Under (LP - Sketched For Life) Tresor
- 02 November 2002 (BBC World Service): Inn Touch (EP - Sketched For Life) Tresor
- 01 October 2003: De Greed (12” EP – Deep Space) On Test
- Freeform
- 19 May 1996: Freefall (v/a album - Synewave New York Volume Two) Kickin
- 19 August 1997: Critical (12" - Tremmer / Critical) Rotation
- 27 October 1997: Tremmer (12" - Tremmer / Critical) Rotation
- 06 November 1997: Tremmer (12") (Mixed The Advent) Rotation
- 06 October 1998: Comin' Thru (12" - Comin' Thru / Like Warriors) Rotation
- 25 November 1998: Comin Thru (12") Rotation
- G Flame & Mr. G
- 23 September 1999: Dumped (part of Richie Hawtin's mix)