We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

SOFT POWER - album

by A.J. Holmes

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £7 GBP  or more

     

  • SOFT POWER (signed optional)
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    From the provocative call to arms of 'The Revolution Will Not be Twitterised' - inspired by the Afro-Brazilian rhythms of Maracatu - to the haunting and dream like 'Ghost Daddy' - with it's classic London narrative in the vein of Ian Dury - to the Soukous influenced pop rock musing on 18th century Cockney superstitions of 'Martyn's Elephant Charm' to the epic Palm-Wine influenced ballad of 'Mein liebster Feind' - sounding like S.E. Rogie wandered into the recording sessions of Big Star's 'Sister Lovers / Third' album. Soft Power is a diverse, yet impressively coherent 2nd album from one of Britain's most promising live acts..

    Includes unlimited streaming of SOFT POWER - album via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

1.
You've gotta get your own 'gotta get your own' Cos no one's gonna give you any 'gotta get your own' You've gotta get your own 'gotta get your own' Cos no one's gonna give you any gotta get your own' You will be sitting all alone 'gotta get your own' Full of beer and cigarettes 'gotta get your own' I'm telling you my friends 'gotta get your own' You won't be at your best That's way you've got to get your own Cos no one's gonna give you any You've got to get your own Cos no one's gonna give you any The day the optic dies 'gotta get your own' The Revolution Will Not Be Twitterised gotta get your own' The day the optic dies 'gotta get your own' People will be wearing status up date sandwich boards 'gotta get your own' And it's so easy to get divorced 'gotta get your own' So it doesn't matter who you meet 'gotta get your own' Oh it's so easy to get divorced these days 'gotta get your own' All you do is go into your friends list 'gotta get your own' And press delete Ha! That's way you've got to get your own Cos no one's gonna give you any You've got to get your own Cos no one's gonna give you any Too many fisherman Chasing too few fish So throw your money in the well and then make a wish When shooting in the dark Slow your heart rate down Fire between each beat And don't make a sound ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha You've gotta get your owe gotta get your own' Cos no one's gonna give you any 'gotta get your own' You've gotta get your owe 'gotta get your own' Cos no one's gonna give you any 'gotta get your own' and when you realised that power was your hands 'gotta get your own' Could you find a coherent voice 'gotta get your own' Do you want to loot a bumper pack of crisps from a pound shop? gotta get your own' Or do you want to see into a future? gotta get your own' And have a choice? That's way you've got to get your own cos no one's gonna give you any That way you've got to ga z,flpv `ls,opf` gjaoivb kvb ndoijckghc fnjcn ... (gibbering, becoming progressively incoherent) Too many fisherman chasing too few fish So throw your money in the well and then make a wish When shooting in the dark Slow your heart rate down Fire between each beat And don't make a sound X2 (2014)
2.
"Never put new shoes upon a table" "Never open an umbrella indoors" "Never put a newborn baby in front of a looking glass" And "Never start a journey on a Friday" You elephant charm me when you - 'do it like that' You charm me when you - 'do it like that' Hackney Empire I like it when you - 'do it like that' I like it when you - 'do it like that' You elephant charm me when you - 'do it like that' You charm me when you - 'do it like that' Hackney Empire I like it when you - 'do it like that' I like it when you - 'do it like that' Oh yah oh yah! 'Yeah' London 13 club Oh yah oh yah 'Yeah' London 13 club "Turn around three times if you see a black cat" "Spit on the ground if you see a white horse" "Never accept scissors or a penknife as a gift" "And never have the colour green in the home" You elephant charm me when you - 'do it like that' You charm me when you - 'do it like that' Hackney Empire I like it when you - 'do it like that' I like it when you - 'do it like that' You elephant charm me when you - 'do it like that' You charm me when you - 'do it like that' Hackney Empire I like it when you - 'do it like that' I like it when you - 'do it like that' Oh yah oh yah! 'Yeah' London 13 club Oh yah oh yah 'Yeah' London 13 club "Whooping cough maybe cured by removing a lock of a child's hair, placing it between two slices of bread and feeding it to a passing dog" "Alternatively you could sew the child into a brown paper vest, and smother them…in Lard!" You elephant charm me when you - 'do it like that' You charm me when you - 'do it like that' Hackney Empire I like it when you - 'do it like that' I like it when you - 'do it like that' You elephant charm me when you - 'do it like that' You charm me when you - 'do it like that' Hackney Empire I like it when you - 'do it like that' I like it when you - 'do it like that' You elephant charm me when you - 'do it like that' You charm me when you - 'do it like that' Hackney Empire I like it when you - 'do it like that' I like it when you - 'do it like that' You elephant charm me when you - 'do it like that' You charm me when you - 'do it like that' Hackney Empire I like it when you - 'do it like that' I like it when you!
3.
Ghost Daddy 03:00
I know that you were there Although I could hardly see your face Down the working man's club The kind where nobody has a job And everyone know your name And toasts to your fame And I know this would all be mind It was just a case of time Ooooh ghost daddy Ghost daddy got trouble Ooooh ghost daddy Ghost daddy got trouble Every minute someones born Growing at an alarming rate And another life is laid to waste On the Gascoigne Estate And you might find some comfort there Something to dull the pain But in just a few more hours The sun will be coming up again. Ooooh ghost daddy Ghost daddy got trouble Ooooh ghost daddy Ghost daddy got trouble Well fighter they will fight And lovers they love to love Drinkers they will drink And junkies love only…junk So here's to absent friends And absent parents too It's OK go on ahead We'll all be catching up with you…soon Ooooh ghost daddy Ghost daddy got trouble Ooooh ghost daddy Ghost daddy got trouble Ooooh ghost daddy Ghost daddy got trouble Ooooh Ooh ghost daddy Ghost daddy got trouble
4.
Just retribution 'Just retribution' Just retribution It's only humane Just retribution 'Just retribution' However it ends It's never revenge It's just... When you want me, I don't want you And when I want you, you don't want me When you want me, I don't want you And when I want you, you don't want me Felt like fate Now it's stalemate and it... Just retribution 'Just retribution' Just retribution It's only humane It can take a lifetime to extricate yourself from the moment It can take a lifetime to extricate yourself from the moment And when the moment's gone, we try to hold on To the moment...just a fleeting moment And its Just retribution 'Just retribution' Just retribution It's only humane It's nothing personal I wouldn't take it personal It's nothing personal I wouldn't take it so personal It's just When you want me, I don't want you And when I want you, you don't want me When you want me, I don't want you And when I want you, you don't want me Felt like fate Now it's stalemate Just retribution 'Just retribution' Just retribution It's only humane Just retribution 'Just retribution' However it ends It's never revenge
5.
The Big Idea 04:17
At the dawn of mankind When we were banging two rocks together In the garden of Eden 'Such a beautiful sight' I wish I could have seen them We'll first there came the wheel Then monkey learnt to steal From one another 'In broad day light' And sometimes under cover Now it's all been done before 'It's all been done before' All been done before 'And what's more' Probably done better Still! Everyone is look for an original idea Everyone's still searching for that break through idea Everyone is look for an original idea Everyone's still searching for that break through idea Soon monkey leant to farm And he invented art and culture 'And hight stress jobs' And then he got a stomach ulcer Well it's so human To fiddle till it breaks 'So now we're human' I guess we all make mistakes Still! Everyone is look for an original idea Everyone's still searching for that break through idea Everyone is look for an original idea Everyone's still searching for that break through idea Now monkey's spit the atom And he's cracked DNA pattens 'And monkey's learnt to fly' And sent his relatives to the sky and fond out It's all been done before It's all been done before It's all been done before 'And what's more' Probably done better Still! Everyone is look for an original idea Everyone's still searching for that break through idea Everyone is look for an original idea Everyone's still searching for that break through idea All the monkeys sing! It's all been done before, It's all been done before, It's all been done before ,It's all been done before,It's all been done before,It's all been done before …ect
6.
The Criminal 02:11
Wont somebody get me some water please I feel like I'm needing some air It's getting a little bit stuffy in here Feel like I'm being cooked medium rare And the survey says! There's a growing lack of empathy So I want out of my contact who will represent me and my friends And get us out of this intact Constantly told we don't have enough Then told to expect less These kind of mixed message Can only lead to civil unrest And the survey says! That everyone you know is a terrorist Which I find frankly terrifying But surely no everyone can be the enemy So someone got to be lying. The the the the the the the The Criminal! For the Latin crimen, meaning to judge which posses the question; which man is truly fit to judge another and most important who has the biggest Sausages!
7.
Your Kind is dying out And To Run around panicking Is better then Sitting down and panicking At least that way You're gonna get some exercise And burn off some of that Useless energy You know your clan in trouble! When your buying more nappies For the elderly Then for babies So this one for the kids! Lets hear it for the infants Save The Children! But not from my taxes please Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah   Ahhhhh  Ahhhhh Ahhhhh  The white working class disappears But don't come look for sympathy Cos you've had your time And that'll do for the likes of you The future is zero growth But continued prosperity And scaling down Of the military Your country no longer needs You to dye for it , there for There really is no use For you any more Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah   Ahhhhh  Ahhhhh Ahhhhh  Now your a fully paid up member of the fallen under class The aspirational deviant from a Dickensian past Now your a burden on our society, all hands out and mouths to be feed you're antiquated, landed gentry, we need you any more! You're a Vanishing Breed Well you no longer make the cars You no long mine the coal And the call centres Have all gone to India On spiritual package deal To find themselves So for the last time please Hang up your tools on the shelf I got a notice this morning "Jesus just joint spotify" Although I found it amusing I still can't decide Wether to sing Hosanna Or to check out his play list Too see if the devil really does have the best tunes Or is there some I might have missed Is there some I might have missed?!!! x 4 Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah   Ahhhhh  Ahhhhh Ahhhhh  Now your a fully paid up member of the fallen under class An aspirational deviant from a Dickensian past Now your a burden on our society, all hands out and mouths to be feed Antiquated, Like landed gentry, We need you any more! Your a Vanishing Breed Al Al AlAl, Al Al AlAl, Al AlAl Al AlAl Al AlAl...sing along now! We're gonna work so hard!!!!...etc!
8.
When you realise you've been down for to long And you're grown tried of the drug that kept you In bad company When you think you might be losing your marbles And you feel that you just can't cope Cos you could handle the disappointments What might be killing you Is the hope Dance like nobody's watching Sing like nobody's listening And love like you've never been hurt before Smile like a baby And scream if you what to go faster And laugh like you've never heard this one before Cos we're here for a sort time and it can be such a sweet time So when all good things come to an end I'll still be your friend In the middle of the main feature You realise you've already seen the end And you feel you've used up most of your credit And lose change is all you have left to spend When you're feeling alone, in need of affection And you wonder who she was with last night Call me, I might not have the answer But I'll probably have some time Dance like nobody's watching Sing like nobody's listening And love like you've never been hurt before Smile like a baby And scream if you what to go faster And laugh like you've never heard this one before Cos we're here for a sort time and it can be such a sweet time So when all good things come to an end I'll still be your friend A sudden change in the weather A gradual change of heart She changes her profile picture Put on a new dress and parts That's when you realise you've been down for to long And you've grown tried of the drugs that used to Keep you company Dance like nobody's watching Sing like nobody's listening And love like you've never been hurt before Smile like a baby And scream if you what to go faster And laugh like you've never heard this one before Cos we're here for a sort time and it can be such a sweet time So when all good things come to an end I'll still be your friend * Chorus based on a quote by Mark Twain — 'Sing like no one is listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like it's heaven on earth.'
9.
CLA 05:26
CLA, CLA, CLA, CLA Three steps forward Two steps back CLA, CLA, CLA, CLA A sideways movement and a clap She dyed her hair to get in contact with her roots So I shaved mine off and got social concrete boots I would have smuggled a tiger in a suitcase if she wanted a cat But everyone knows you can't keep pets in a council flat CLA, CLA, CLA, CLA Three steps forward Two steps back CLA, CLA, CLA, CLA A sideways movement and a clap Saudi sandal surfing on hot tarmac Entertainment guaranteed or your money back Extreme sports wear for the 80 plus Minus shopping cars with roll bars and a mini bus CLA, CLA, CLA, CLA Three steps forward Two steps back CLA, CLA, CLA, CLA A sideways movement and a clap The King Of Pop is dead He had a price put on his head Now the Prince he must step up And claim what's his birth right But without any clear foe in sight He may have lost the will to fight And ugliness is close to godliness As we contort our inner organs Why do we love the most, the things that hurt us the most?...well I guess We're never more alive then in the mist of stress CLA, CLA, CLA, CLA Three steps forward Two steps back CLA, CLA, CLA, CLA A sideways movement and a clap Three steps forward Two steps back A sideways movement and a clap X 8

about

From the provocative call to arms of 'The Revolution Will Not be Twitterised' - inspired by the Afro-Brazilian rhythms of Maracatu - to the haunting and dream like 'Ghost Daddy' - with it's classic London narrative in the vein of Ian Dury - to the Soukous influenced pop rock musing on 18th century Cockney superstitions of 'Martyn's Elephant Charm' to the epic Palm-Wine influenced ballad of 'Mein liebster Feind' - sounding like S.E. Rogie wandered into the recording sessions of Big Star's 'Sister Lovers / Third' album. Soft Power is a diverse, yet impressively coherent 2nd album from one of Britain's most promising live acts..

credits

released July 6, 2015

written and performed by A.J Holmes and The Hackney Empire

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

A.J. Holmes London, UK

A.J. Holmes (aka Vanishing Breed) is a Musician, Recordist, Big fan of Pan-African music, Lover of 20th Century Architecture and Founder of The Hackney Empire (band)

contact / help

Contact A.J. Holmes

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

A.J. Holmes recommends:

If you like A.J. Holmes, you may also like: