VARIOUS — Odd Jobs Vol. 4 EP

Various Artists – Odd Jobs Vol. 4 Common Labour returns with Odd Jobs Vol. 4, the eleventh 12-inch in the label's catalogue and another carefully assembled snapshot of its deep-rooted house aesthetic. Released as COM-011, the four-track compilation brings together Omar Santis, Flabaire, Thomas Wood and pothOles for a journey through deep, understated and groove-led house music. Limited to 199 hand-stamped and individually numbered copies worldwide, Odd Jobs Vol. 4 continues Common Labour's longstanding commitment to small-run vinyl releases with a strong DJ focus. The label's own description frames the record as a journey into deeper territory, connecting four artists from Tokyo, Paris, Zürich and Helsinki within a shared underground context. Omar Santis opens the record with Pinoki, establishing the EP's rhythmic foundation. The track works through a deep house framework where groove and low-end movement take precedence over overt melodic development. Its position on the A-side immediately establishes the understated character that runs throughout the release: controlled percussion, a rolling rhythmic pulse and an emphasis on subtle movement. Flabaire follows with Just Another Tool, bringing his distinctive approach to deep and soulful house into the Common Labour catalogue. The Paris-based producer has developed a sound that frequently connects contemporary house production with the warmth and musicality of early-2000s deep house. His contribution here fits naturally into the EP's stripped-back aesthetic, functioning as a groove-focused piece rather than an oversized peak-time statement. The B-side begins with Thomas Wood's All It Takes. Wood is a recurring presence within the Common Labour catalogue, having previously appeared on the label's earlier Odd Jobs compilations. His contribution continues that connection with a track centred on rhythmic detail and understated house functionality. The release places Wood alongside artists from different parts of the European and international underground, but the production language remains remarkably coherent across the four tracks. pothOles closes the record with Bromsman. As one of the central figures behind Common Labour, pothOles has been involved in the label's catalogue since its early releases, both as an artist and as part of the label's wider musical identity. His closing contribution completes the compilation with another understated groove, maintaining the record's emphasis on deep rhythmic movement rather than dramatic arrangement. The strength of Odd Jobs Vol. 4 comes from the consistency of its selection. Rather than attempting to create a conventional compilation built around contrasting styles, Common Labour connects four producers through a shared understanding of groove, space and underground house music. The tracks occupy slightly different positions between house, deep house, tech house and dub-influenced territory, but none feels disconnected from the overall sequence. The release is catalogued by specialist distributors primarily as House, with additional classifications including Deep, Tech and Dub. The record also continues Common Labour's distinctive physical approach. Earlier volumes in the Odd Jobs series established the label's tradition of limited, hand-stamped vinyl editions, and Vol. 4 retains that format with only 199 individually numbered copies. The limited production reinforces the release's character as a DJ and collector-oriented piece rather than a mass-market compilation. For DJs, the appeal of COM-011 lies in its versatility. Pinoki and Just Another Tool establish a deep opening, All It Takes maintains the record's rhythmic focus on the B-side, while Bromsman provides a natural closing point. The four tracks can work individually within deeper house sets or as part of a longer progression where subtle changes in groove and texture are more important than immediate impact. Odd Jobs Vol. 4 is ultimately a concise representation of what Common Labour has consistently pursued: carefully selected underground house music pressed in limited quantities and designed to reward repeated listening. With Omar Santis, Flabaire, Thomas Wood and pothOles sharing the record, COM-011 brings together four complementary interpretations of deep, groove-led club music while preserving the handmade character that has defined the label's vinyl catalogue.