This must be the greenest cover art we have ever featured on Eardrums, and I bet it livens up the otherwise dark colours of our site. The music has a similar effect on me. All dark thoughts disappear when The Voluntary Butler Scheme starts to play. His music certainly cheers me up. When I say “his”, I mean Rob Jones, former drummer for UK’s The School, and the only member of The Voluntary Butler Scheme. I love his former band, but I am really glad he quit. They seem to manage just fine without him, and he has created a wonderful and very, very special debut-album on his own with “At Breakfast, dinner, tea”.

He really is on his own on this one. The album is full of instruments, voices and sometimes it sounds as if he’s had a full orchestra with him in the studio, – brass-instruments, piano, guitars, lots of voices, drums, handclaps and electronics – but it’s just him. The songs have been made in his bedroom in Stourbridge, outside Birmingham.

I don’t think I will hear something that sounds like this from any other artist than Rob Jones. The closest artist I can think of is Badly Drawn Boy, but TVBS’s sound and arrangements are messier (in a good way) and sound more “in the moment”. It’s an unique and playful album, full of funny and creative arrangements, and with clever lyrics made by a man who must have a vivid imagination!

I’m reminded by lots of different bands and music when I listen to this album, although nothing sounds like this. It’s roots are definitely in melodic indie pop, but the album is also full of classic Motown soul elements and 60s pop harmonies, as well as modern studio tricks and electronics. There are so many crazy sounds and fun elements here that bands who are afraid of their reputation or fear what others think of them, would never have dared to make something like this. It’s not perfect, no, no, no, but I guess a perfect album wouldn’t be right for The Voluntary Butler Scheme.

For some people, – like NME, who didn’t like it at all, – this album may be a little bit “too much”, too full of ideas and maybe also too joyful and sweet, – but for me, this is just what I want.

“I love loads of classic production sounds, but then I’m trying to be disrespectful to it somehow,” says Rob Jones. “You know Money Mark? He’s got so many classic elements in there, those great Stevie Wonder keyboard sounds, but he messes around with them, disrespects them – that’s the approach I love.”

The Voluntary Butler Scheme’s album “At Breakfast, Dinner, Tea” will be in the shops tomorrow, and if you prefer the digital version, it is already available on shops like iTunes or Amie Street. Both of them sells it quite cheap.

Recommended!

Here are some videos from The Voluntary Butler Scheme. There are also several mp3s available here in exchange of your email address (I think you will be added to his mailinglist).