Teknofonic - Teknofonic Essentials Vol. 1

Adam Reifsteck, a New York producer also known as Sonic Fear, started Teknofonic Recordings less than a year ago. This new EDM label has done something which Hearkens back to the heady days of rave record labels by releasing Teknofonic Essentials Vol. 1 chronicling Teknofonic's first year in electronic music.

Teknofonic recordings is a bit of an anomaly in the current rave/EDM climate. With the existence of cheap (sometimes free) production software and promotion vehicles like Soundcloud and Bandcamp, bedroom producers have saturated the market, even where clubs are concerned by offering free downloads. Teknofonic, however, seems to be looking to create a label format which bridges the gap between old rave and new EDM with its production and marketing sensibilities; artists get creative control and also big label backing. If Teknofonic Essentials Vol. 1 is any kind of barometer, this concept is also spilling over into the music Reifsteck and his compatriots make and choose to be on the label.

Teknofonic Essentials Vol. 1 features 20 tracks which run the gamut of genres. House, deep house, dubstep, trance and even experimental are all represented. This shows Reifsteck’s understanding both of where electronic music is going as well as where it came from. Reifsteck/Sonic Fear opens the album with "I'll Be Your World (feat. Veela)," and sets a surprising tone, toggling back and forth between minimal dubstep and progressive house. With some old school ravey samples thrown in, the hodgepodge that is this track borders on experimental itself. The very next song, "Novocaine" by Daniel Monroe also leans toward experimental with an opening guitar sample, a heavy dubstep bassline, techno highs and a strong house beat. 

Other tracks on the album are just as surpising, but in a different way, as they are strong nods to early rave music. "Acid Dayz" by Trigger, for example, is a classic acid breaks rave track a’la Chicago and Florida. Similarly “Below the Surface” by Upper Regions has the progressive trance stylings of a 90s sunrise set. Still other tracks on Teknofonic Essentials Vol. 1 are firmly rooted in modern EDM. "M!nts" by LFO has a deep house vibe with a chill sample set, while “The End” by Adliss is a modern take on a sunrise set; classic progressive house with pretty, spirit-lifting high melodies.

Teknofonic Essentials Vol. 1 does a great job showing the diversity of Teknofoinc Recordings across its one-year discography as well as the ability of its talent to incorporate the full gamut of the rave experience, past, present and future. Reifsteck and his growing crew have done a good job on establishing this retrospective early in Teknofonic Essentials Vol. 1. Here’s hoping they continue to be this comprehensive in their representation of all EDM genres and time periods.