producers: anatomy, deetalx

It's getting hard, harder, to find a good name for your group, crew or self. And in the field of taken words and expressions, the Oddjobs have found a little gem. Of course, an odd job is something a person calls his profession, before he finds his true position and the job he becomes successful, comfortable in and known. Usually odd jobs are only talked about in past terms. And considering all of that, the name might just mean, that when it comes to the Oddjobs, and this being their odd job, then the best is yet to come. Hot damn.

As what we get is already mighty funky. As you shouldn't get it twisted: despite the term odd often and usually being used in connection with some avant garde shizznizz, the Oddjobs take a traditional approach, extend it and make it a true appearance of what today sounds like, without burning the bridges behind it, forgetting what brought them here.

You can tell, there will be many good things to be said about this "Absorbing Playtime" EP. But we first gotta start with a little damper, as the guitar on "Oscillations At 40 Hz." just doesn't do it. Especially as there are too many dope sounds in there, that further show the 'naw'. However, after a few times listening to it, you will not fall in love with it, but will hear the sense the guitar makes, and the funk this results in. Much of the success belongs to the emcees Advizer and Crescent Moon though, who show a flow and delivery, that's just incredible.

On "Liberal Arts", the track starts out melancholic, then being overtaken by a rather in your face drum. Again giving us reason to restrain our hooray, the drum is taking us to the few moments when the track calms again, the horn is carrying us, and that we just enjoy. The beat changes continuously, what is something the Oddjobs work masterfully, the thoughts expressed are being enhanced by this megaphone like background. And finally on the next cut, we are given the smoothness the other tracks had us wish for, with "The Distance Song" sneaking up on us and just blowing us away, gently though. Now to put it quite simply, there's nothing, wrong with this track. Nada. The lyrics are ringing true, the cymbals are magical, the flute and strings are giving us goose bumps. Absolutely brilliant. For quite some time, this is one of the best tracks we've been fortunate enough to catch.

Unfortunately the guitars return on "Peace Land Bread". But the bluesy ways they are used, and the quick shove into the background are taking the wind outta the sails of our disliking, we still could have done without though. We are glad when the flow is a little slowed down, during the last verse, as we are shot at with thoughts, like outta a proton gun. "Visiting Hours" is talking us into a lounge, and the musicality of the beat is keeping us amazed, also the refusal to keep it monotone. And handing the mix back and forth, the story is told, the hero explained the parable and we found a literal piece of music.

Oh, what the heck, another guitar on "Absorbing Playtime"? Doesn't the flute work too well, don't you like the track better, once the guitars are gone? However, the title cut is taking us into spending pastime with the emcees, sharing the field with them and trying to redo their actions, like we are a little brother that just doesn't know better. Quite hectic "The Fusebox" progresses with a drill sergeant bass line. Again gaining reason outta the two places of residence these four Oddjobs are residing at, there's gems of statements being dropped, covering every single subject you could have taken in High School, this just being on a college level.

And the Oddjobs realized what they have in "The Distance Song", as they give us "The Distance Beat". And the cymbals, strings, flute are still incredible, and your awe just as strong, maybe even getting stronger with every listen to this. And the reviewer is plainly not able to tell you how seriously dope this is. That's why we better continue to a nightly visit type vibe on "Sleep Walk". Actually it's not as off center as this sounds like, but there's a strange foggy and empty eyeness about this. The lyrics are also defined by a moment, where the pen just runs and the next day you can't even remember what you wrote. You will have to get back, finding yourself being surprised by your train of thought and the spaces your words came from. And what feels like a moment of clarity is a moment in a shadow, taking away the light from the usual and shedding it on the hidden.

With "Fun", this EP ends. The track is a creative stomper making the snaps be coming at you with a detour, it's like spitting from balconies, not even just being the pain in the neck, also the smartaleck, the guy that can stress you with contradictions, that can constantly make you look bad and has you wonder, why there is no one but you seeing his phoniness. Basically, this is the lyrical manifest of the kid you love to hate, that at times you could talk to alright, but that still is to the core someone you can't like.

And with this analogy, we can conclude. Not having to be repetitive, there are tracks on here, that simply are absolutely, very, very, good. There are others that fall somewhat short in getting this kind of props. But even with those tracks, you can't deny the masterfully put together beats, that are so grown and eloquent, their dopeness and different character seems infinite. And the emcees understand to treat these tracks with an understanding of rhythm and they are sharing the space, so much rather than trying to outdo them and hog the attention. And that means that this is truly a group effort, something that many groups never achieve, this does with seemingly ease.