Funk compilations are being released by the dozen as of late and to much adulation. Frankly, I’m alright with that. The appeal of compilations like this can span a number of different kinds of people: folks that like hip-hop, groove oriented musics, old folks who are just down and any variety of new fangled head. Each and all will be impressed by the digging skills represented on not only The Kings of Diggin' but most new comps like this particular one. However, this very album is a double disc and represents the passion of three separate individuals.  Kon & Amir are given disc one, the shorter of the two.  And on their side of things, the selecting is probably a bit more consistent, but limited in a few ways. A funky big band grinds out grooves for a duet on Tyrone & Carr’s “Take Me with You”, while there’s some piano and clav jazz funk on a track from Henri Pierre Noel. And no, you’re not expected to recognize any of these names here. With K & A, the tracks are allowed to be followed to a natural end as opposed to disc two where deejay Muro mixes everything together. The startling amount of tracks – 44 - on Muro’s disc simply expound dedication and love for what he’s doing. More often than not, the selections are instrumental, or at least the portion of the songs that are selected for inclusion here. These aren’t all breaks, but very frequently feature a flurry of percussion from a number of different players at once. Muro, though, is able to cut a lotta tracks together by ending with a horn blast, which segues into the next selection. The GT’s “Watoosi Lucy” is representative of the album’s music in the fact that it’s straight and to the point. This offering sports a tight horn line and includes one of the few vocals tracks. In the end, the ability of any man to acquire this many different records that are relatively arcane is impressive. But to accomplish this and live in Japan gets pretty close to unthinkable.