The Voluntary Butler Scheme - Tabasco Sole [Single]

Split Records

What exactly caused the heart attack that killed Michael Jackson is not officially known (of course there are many who believe he is not dead at all), but I have a theory. Michael Jackson heard “Tabasco Sole” by The Voluntary Butler Scheme (23 year old Rob Jones from Stourbridge), and the shock of being so blatantly stolen from, caused the myocardial infarction. As the song that has been plagiarised is The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back”, I just hope none of his other brothers get to hear it.

OK so it’s not a complete rip-off, just the main guitar riff, the rest of it is mildly quirky lo-fi indie (think ‘Hooligan’ by Embrace – remember that?) and to be fair, if you’re going to take a guitar riff, then the grin-inducing, party-starting one from “I Want You Back” is not a bad one to go for. It would take a rather gloomy soul to not warm to “Tabasco Sole”, and the last time I checked, it was clear skies all the way in mine.

The B-sides are of varying quality; “Split” is the best of the bunch, with it afro-chant of “banananana-banananana-banananana-na” meaning absolutely nothing unless you speak fruitish, but it’s still miles better than anything the hideously self-aware, quirkier-than-thou Los Campesinos produce in-between baking vegan cupcakes. The alleged ‘remix’ of “Tabasco Sole” (Akira Don Remix) is completely pointless, whilst the cover of “Together in Electric Dreams” reminds us that there was always a great song in Human Leagues’ original, it just strips away the 80’s vibe for those who find it too much (not I – I’m a child of the 80’s).

In the wake (no pun intended) of Michael Jackson’s death/memorial, and the bullshit that has often surrounded it, it’s nice to be reminded of what the man did best, and what he left behind for others to erm...’borrow’. Just remember Mr Jones, as it states in the song, he wants it back.