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.

The Unplanned Obsolescence Of Thom Topham

by Steve Swindells

/
  • Streaming + Download

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

      $7 USD  or more

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 4 Steve Swindells releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of DanMingo, The Unplanned Obsolescence Of Thom Topham, The Hanging Baskets Of Babylon, and New Crescent Yard. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $21.75 USD (25% OFF)

     

1.
Hello Lonely 04:31
The truth came back to find me, a vision that could blind me - once again, oh my friend, hello lonely once again. You tried to make me toe the line, to step on out to help me find a feeling - with one of a kind. Hello lonely, you've come back home again, hello lonely, I knew you were my friend. Hello lonely, I tried to comprehend, hello lonely, but some things never end... hello lonely, once again. They say that we are islands, you've come back into my land once again, oh my friend, hello lonely once again. I tried to make the quantum leap to where love conquers, something deep and flowing, so where are we going? Hello lonely, you've come back home again, hello lonely, I knew you were my friend. Hello lonely, I tried to comprehend, hello lonely, but some things never end... hello lonely, once again.
2.
Six Degrees 07:43
To some of those who ever loved me, I say sorry, but it was not down to me that you made wishes that I flew above the trees. Are you sorry that you threw away the keys? To some of those who never loved me, I say nothing, but I wonder why I am free to go fishing in an empty sea, is there anything more than, is there anything more than angry? It's six degrees from the moon on the water to a melody, it's six degrees, it's six degrees. Just six degrees, just for you and just for me. Whoever you may be - it's six degrees. It's six degrees. Here comes the renaissance, raise a smile for the beating of your heart, you knew it was good when you finally understood that the time had come to tear your world apart. Here comes, here comes, here comes, here comes the renaissance... it's another chance. It's six degrees. It's six degrees from the moon on the water to a melody, six degrees, above and below the sea. It's six degrees, just for you and just for me.
3.
Look out for the hidden messages... No nothing will ever be the same You are the flotsam and jetsam of the past. And people who refuse to play the game will be guaranteed to always be the last. In the queue where no-one knows your name you are forgotten like 80s ghetto blasters, it's so cynical and clinical, oh the shame like a roller-coaster ride that's always going faster... You've been framed - like a Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster, You gotta play the game to please your masters. Hung up on a wall for ever after, in the hall of fame of tears and laughter... You've been framed, you've been named. It will never be the same. In the middle of London's Hard Rock Cafe - look out for the hidden messages... Seen in every portrait, there's a truth and there's a lie and everything that you were taught is an idea coming from on high (Look out for the hidden messages), by the spin doctors of phoney thoughts, religions based on power, hypocrisy from twisted minds who would crush anything that flowers (Look out for the hidden messages). In the queue where no-one knows your name, you are forgotten like 80s ghetto blasters, it's so cynical and clinical, oh the shame, like a roller-coaster ride that's always going faster... You've been framed - like a Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster, You gotta play the game to please your masters. Look out for the hidden messages.... Hung up on every wall for ever after, in the hall of fame of tears and laughter, you've been Framed, you've been named. It will never be the same. In the middle of London's Hard Rock Cafe - look out for the hidden messages. You’ve been framed.
4.
You can dance and I can sing of the joy that magic moments bring, oh so rare and still something to share, our special night. You can move and I can play the piano for our yesterday, I never thought that you would stay until the morning light. But you've got someone over there, and I'll have someone soon. The two of us just came together playing the same tune. It was no more than a good time, no more than a good time, it was no more than a good time in the short time that we had. No more than a good time, no more than a good time, it was no more than a good time, and the good time made it sad. You must sleep, and I will dream of things not always what they seem, you were the cat who got the cream, and that makes me feel fine. You're a star and I'm down to earth, you shone on me for what it's worth, but I won't think that it's the birth of more than a good time. But you've got someone over there, and I'll have someone soon. The two of us just came together playing the same tune. It was no more than a good time, no more than a good time, it was no more than good time in the short time that we had. No more than a good time, no more than a good time, no more than a good time, no more than a good time...
5.
Barcelona 07:30
The heat spreads like a blanket on a hazy afternoon, saved only by a gentle breeze which carries many tunes. TVs blaring and radios, the wail of police cars and gypsies playing concertinas in the cafes and the bars. A big ship sounds its fog horn, like a mournful mating call. In the night like we were passing, touching chords that said it all. Lying naked on the beach, with the rhythm of the sea... the city that has everything is ringing bells for me. Barcelona, on my own, away under the stars. Watching the world passing from the Cafe Miramar. Barcelona home-from-home, alone, but not too far, from times when two will tango to the sound of your guitar. Barcelona... Lost in ancient alleyways, I am inside Gaudi's mind. Like Christopher Columbus, I will seek, and I will find. Fantasies in clay and stone and dreams in soaring towers. The city that has everything has found me in its power. Barcelona, on my own, away under the stars. Watching the world passing from the Cafe Miramar. Barcelona home-from-home, alone, but not too far, from times when two will tango to the sound of your guitar. Barcelona...
6.
Chatterton 06:14
Chatterton is hangin' out on Forty Second Street, just another youth who found that truth gets trampled underneath your feet. Chatterton is going 'round all those corridors of power, to show his works to coked-out jerks, who never could smell a perfect flower. Chatterton is dancing, with the spirit in his eyes, and he's waiting to communicate, but no-one seems inclined to try. It's over now, the pain has gone, the love comes later, far beyond the struggle to be recognised by all the so-called great and wise. But inspiration never dies, the hope lives on in those young men's eyes, no the inspiration never dies - the hope lives on in all those young men's eyes. Chatterton is walking on a wild deserted beach, where the oil and foam have found a home, like love polluted, out of reach. Chatterton is drinking in a another Soho bar and he's bouncing thoughts off those who ought to know just who and what they are. Chatterton is lying beneath an open window, once so fine and young, 'til those bells were rung across a green and empty meadow. It's over now, the pain has gone, the love comes later, far beyond the struggle to be recognised by all the so-called great and wise. But inspiration never dies, the hope lives on in those young men's eyes, no, inspiration the never dies - the hope lives on in all those young men's eyes.
7.
You Go By 05:58
I will not try to admit defeat, or walk on by the other side of the street dragging my feet while you go by, while your clock ticks and every moment in my heart begins to stick in my mind - you go by. Some people thrive on pressure, if it aint there then they invent it and others live more leisurely, it's their world and how they present it. You go by, you never had to try, 'cos you know everyone and everything and always knew which bells to ring... like mine. Don't be so fly, no, don't say goodbye 'cos I'll need you in the future. Call it... time. I wanna call it time, time. I wanna call it - you go by. Time, time, I wanna call it time. Hey, oh, you go by, you go by. You go by. Now listen - I wanna call you sometimes, and no-one's naming names, but I can't bear too much sunshine, or nights spent playing games. You go by - like dirty tricks, and every vision in my head begins to click in my mind and you go, you go by. Hey - you know I wanna call it time, time, time, call it, time, time, time... You go by, yeah, you... time, I wanna call it, I wanna call it. Yeah, you go by... you go, you go, you go by.
8.
Everybody knows when they are up against the wall, but no-one's gonna show them they're waiting for the fall. Waiting for the fall - when summer turns to rain, you thought you'd seen it all, having lived through so much pain. All that talking and walking tall, knowing someone knew your name, then the world became so small, and the bigger picture came like a waterfall. A wake-up call yeah ... Waiting for the call. Waiting for the fall Ooh hoo waiting for the fall. Waiting for the fall, like a wake-up call, dancin' in the shadows... Waiting for the fall Waiting for the call. Waiting for the fall. Waiting for the fall, when summer turns to rain, you thought you'd seen it all, having lived through so much pain. All that talking and walking tall, knowing someone knew your name, then the world became so small and the bigger picture came like a cannonball....yeah, Waiting for, waiting for, waiting for the call... waiting for the fall.
9.
Torn Genes 05:19
You wake up of an afternoon, and wonder where you are. You're tangled up in some stranger's sheets and a record is on repeat across the street… in an empty bar. You put your clothes on, find the door and then it starts to rain. You pull your hood above your head, and you wonder what was said, that led to bed… and back again. Torn genes, from the leather queens, to the cowboys and the clones. Torn genes, from some magazines, not just words, but sticks and stones. Torn genes, like those darker dreams, that can chill you to the bone. Torn genes, like a silent scream, then you're walking home alone… with your torn genes. You wake up of an afternoon, and wonder where you are. You're tangled up in some stranger's sheets and a record is on repeat across the street… in an empty bar. Torn genes, from the leather queens, to the cowboys and the clones. Torn genes, from some magazines, not just words, but sticks and stones. Torn genes, like those darker dreams, that can chill you to the bone. Torn genes, like a silent scream, then you're walking home alone… with your torn genes…
10.
The keeper of the keys is watching from the waterside, he's waiting for the ferry man to take him for a ride. The keeper of the keys is fated to be engaged, to someone who is invisible and locked in their own cage. The keeper of the keys, he's not like you and me, he changes with every stranger that he meets. The keeper of the keys, he'll never set you free, Because you're animal and criminal and something that must be beaten.... The maker of the waves is waiting for the full moon tide He's not fated to be otherwise Every storm is his to ride. The angel of the dark is staring through your window. No more demons bringing broken dreams, It's time to burn all your back-pages. The keeper of the keys, he's not like you and me, he changes with every stranger that he meets. The keeper of the keys, he'll never set you free, Because you're animal and criminal and something that must be beaten.... The keeper of the keys. The keeper of the keys, he has no place in society.
11.
Way To Go 04:32
You've got to break the rules sometimes, when fate leaves behind fools you don't wanna know. It's a way to go. You've got to let the river take you - delivered to a world where you can grow. It's a way to go. You can see the dreams before you with someone 'round to reassure you. Anything could happen to you now, so many things are going through you. You've got keep believing, feel it burning down below, it's a way to go. You've gotta turn the pain to pleasure - the treasure you can gain is waiting to be shown. You can see the dreams before you with someone 'round to reassure you. Anything could happen to you now, so many things are going through you. You've got keep believing, feel it burning down below, it's a way to go. That was the life you're leaving - feel it turnin', start to slow. it's a way to go. You've got keep believing, feel it burning down below, it's a way to go. That was the life you're leaving - feel it turnin', start to slow. it's a way to go.
12.
Ooh... New York... hello... hello... Halloween. It's the best place and the worst place that you have ever been, It's all the beauty and the beast that you have ever seen. There are rocks and those hard places where you live a tortured dream, then go mining for the fuel of love in never-ending seams. Behind masks there may be blades, it's a New York Halloween, dressing up and getting laid and in-between... It's a New York Halloween... it's a New York Halloween. Halloween, this is New York, this is New York, it's a New York Halloween. We hooked-up on Sixth Avenue and Grand, just for a drink, The photographs all flew away, I fell for you, I think. In the flesh you were so beautiful and warm, beyond the screen, I wish that I had slept some more, that my act had been more clean. There was rain on my parade on this New York Halloween, like the love we never made... the unforseen. This is New York Halloween... this is New York Halloween. Halloween, this is New York. This is New York, hello Halloween. Something beautiful, someone beautiful I've seen, someone beautiful, something beautiful, someone beautiful I've seen... it was like some unrequited dream. This is New York, this is New York. So beautiful. On this New York, hello, Halloween. Hello, hello. This is New York, this is New York Halloween. Hello, hello Halloween. This this New York, hello, Halloween. Hello Halloween. This is... this is, this is New York, this is New York, this is, this is Halloween.
13.
Too long in the wilderness, too long in the flame. We light a fire, we walk the wire, I nearly know your name, it ain't easy, but you please me because, you know there is no game, there's nothing you should fear, you saw you came you conquered shame, it's the wisdom of the years, no more tears, the wisdom. Now you nearly hold me close, now you feel the same. We learn to deal with how we feel, I nearly know your name, it ain't easy, but you please me because you know there is no game. There's nothing you should fear, you saw you came, you conquered shame, it's the wisdom of the years. No more tears.
14.
Walking by the sea one day, lost in thought, so far away, heard a voice inside me say: 'You're gonna meet somebody…' Wondered how this thing might be, making sense of mystery, thinking I was suddenly about to find my way Then, I saw you… walking on the shore. You looked at me… I looked at you… need I say more? I know we're gonna be forever, Oh - we've got it going on. I know we're gonna be forever, You know - together we belong. Together we'll be strong. Together we belong. Then you smiled and I smiled too, held my hands out, so did you… heard a voice inside come through 'I think you've found somebody'. Walking now - we're getting close I said: 'Hi, you like this coast?' You replied 'yeah, it's the most precious place to me… Then, I held you, talking by the shore. You looked at me, I looked at you… need I say more I know we're gonna be forever, oh - we've got it going on. I know we're gonna be forever, You know - together we belong. I know - together we'll be strong. Together we belong… together we'll be strong.
15.
Hejiro 05:52
Unplanned obsolescence... hejiro... Get the message... and light a candle. Everything that you felt was the real and not the dark. Don't get depressed, no, then fly right off the handle, 'cos your fate's in your hands and it's time to light that spark. Hejiro - a slight thought of a presence. Hejiro... it was not my unplanned obsolescence. All those daydreams that turned to nightmares. with that hatred and pain that you never ever asked for. Where was the love, where was the somewhere, when you worked for the hope, without ever needing to wear a mask? Hejiro... hejiro... unplanned obsolescence. Hejiro... hejiro.
16.
The light, the water, the rain, the river. The light, the water, the rain, the river. The light, the water, the rain, the river. Rancho deluxe, rancho deluxe... It's a serenade of love for strangers who are in flux. The renegades of rancho deluxe. Yeah, the renegades, ahh, yeah I'm gonna take you. The light, the water, the rain, the river. The light, the water, the rain, the river. Mountains and glaciers and volcanos... Hey... the renegades.... There's a windswept warehouse neighbourhood called nothing, for good reason, not a place that people live in, but an industrial domain. Now they're building flats by the hospital, you can rent and buy this season, in a wasteland with no heart and soul - it's a dystopian dusty plain. There's a huge inhuman superstore that's open 24, next door to the hospital, where I found myself again… back in A&E with me and me, there are endless corridors and it hurts so much you can't even touch - so how do you measure pain? That's why I say I hurt so bad... I cannot even think, my head has turned to Hades and I really need a drink. How do you measure pain? Do you just believe what someone tells you? Why does it still remain, like someone someone obsessed who can just smell you? The cold wind blows, the car park glows with fall-out acid rain, I might even lose my home-sweet-home, so how do you measure pain? There's no friend here, I'm all alone, I'm focused on my brain. It tells me hurt is visceral, so how do you measure pain? That's why they say I hurt so bad I cannot even think, my head has turned to Hades and I really need a drink. So how do you measure pain? Do you just believe what someone tells you? Why does it still remain, like someone someone obsessed who can just smell you? How? How? How can you measure pain?
17.
A tale of two cities, a fifties movie in monochrome, reading Tarot in The Tuilleries, they saw that France would be her home. The wine was velvet valium, as they dined by candlelight, talking of their conquests and laughing with delight. They danced with Gallic cowboys at a Gaultier soiree, Then slept with perfect strangers in a film-noir verite. And they felt they were fated, ghosts of honour at the feast - the place names on the table read: the beauty and the beast. They were actors in a film that could not ever be released... it was sweet, but it was bitter, for the beauty and the beast. Bleary-eyed, with secret smiles, they slept right through the day, then found two could-be lovers in a jungle hideaway. Lost in conversation, bodies touching as they spoke, whilst music played and bodies swayed in coloured lights and smoke. She said: 'Il est heureux'. He said: 'mais il est triste', The moment passed, it could not last for the beauty and the beast. They were figures in a painting, a forgotten masterpiece… with two perfect strangers waving - to the beauty and beast. She said: 'Il est heureux'. He said: 'mais il est triste', The moment passed, it could not last for the beauty and the beast.

about

This is the remastered, and in some cases, remixed music that is part of the narrative of the world's first-ever #MultimediaEBook 'My Unplanned Obsolescence' 'by' Thom Topham (Steve Swindells' Bowie-esque alter-ego). At 95K words, this should definitely qualify as the world's longest-ever album sleeve notes! I'm going to contact the Guinness Book Of Records to offer my album sleeve notes as a potential 'record'. I'm sure it will be a first - like so much of what I've done in my life. Now, if you think that sounds maybe arrogant, then you need to read both of my (currently free) groundbreaking, #multimediaebooks thomtopham.wordpress.com/about and steveswindells.wordpress.com/about

credits

released July 4, 2019

This double album stretches in time from the mid-eighties to 2019.

It's mostly all my own work, but several notable guests have conspired to enhance the experience.

They're credited individually on each track - double-click on the titles for the full lowdown and lyrics.

Cover design by Steve Swindells.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Steve Swindells Bath, UK

For my bio see (and 'like' me please): www.facebook.com/SteveSwindellsMusic

contact / help

Contact Steve Swindells

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Steve Swindells, you may also like: