!K7 Audio Files

Since launching in the ‘90s, Berlin-based !K7 has been one of the most consistently interesting electronic labels around. The imprint regularly releases albums that stray from genre conventions, so it should come as no surprise that the digital-only comp, !K7 Audio Files, is both excellent and far-ranging. Quiet Village’s “Victoria’s Secret” is a lovely slice of sci-fi exotica where oboe tones float over singing strings, lapping waves, and entrancing bird calls. It’s clear here that ‘80s veteran Bomb the Bass is still making interesting music; just listen to “”Black River (Gui Borrato Mix),” where a vocalist that evokes Iggy-Pop-in-crooner-mode sings over a dubby, new wave-tinged groove. Swayzak is represented with “Silent Luv (Bruns Silent Dub),” a track that combines driving beats, a repeated quavering tone and other elements to create a spare and dark instrumental. By contrast The Herbaliser’s “You’re Not All That” dishes out horn-driven funk that rocks like top-notch party music from the ‘70s. And the ever-reliable — and intriguing — Matthew Herbert checks in with “The Rich Man’s Prayer,” a cut that features the excellent vocalist Eska Mtungwazi.