Sub-titled “Sons and Daughters of Funk, Boogie, Soulful Reggae and Afrobeat”, Party Keller, compiled by German DJ Florian Keller contains exactly what it says on the tin. Described by Keller as a “funk related” compilation, it contains some excellent, and some not so excellent music.

The album opens with a soulful reggae take on Barbara Acklin’s “Am I the Same Girl”. With its haunting trumpet lick and Charmaine Burnette’s smooth vocals, this is an excellent opener. The Baker Brothers bring some heavy funk with a fat break on “Piece of Mind”. Keller calls himself “one of the world’s top funk & rare groove DJs”, and it’s the inclusion of this kind of rare and quality track that allows him to lay claim to this. It’s a tad confusing that he then serves up Lefties Soul Connection’s take on DJ Shadow’s “Organ Donor”. Far from being the best thing that the Dutch funk masters have produced, this take on a classic, while good, is hardly great.

Pnu Riff’s Caribbean-flavoured afrobeat/funk on “Bula” is much more palatable. Likewise Natural Self’s “The Sound” with its squelchy horns and similarly funky beat. Less pleasing is the offbeat spoken vocals of Keller’s own take on Travis Blaque’s “Vowel Movement”. It’s probably just a personal thing, but I really just don’t feel Blaque’s rapping style, and the chorus is just annoying.
Discoconductor contributes “Disco Rhythms”, a tasty little funk disco number, but the standout of the album is gorgeous soulful “Unconditional Love”. Canada’s Jacksoul really hit the spot with this warm soulful stunner. It’s almost worth the price of admission on its own.

While there’s much to like about this compilation, there’s also one or two little things that aren’t quite right. If you claim to be one of the world’s best funk and rare groove DJs – a claim that puts you up there with the likes of Keb Darge and DJ Muro – then I expect a little more. File this one under “could have done better”.