Description
Release Date Friday 5th September 2025
All pre-orders will be dispatched/made ready for collection on that day.
The Greatest Mistake Of My Life, the second album from Cardiff’s Holding Absence. Building on the excellent foundations laid down by the band’s eponymous debut record, released in 2019, and following standalone singles “Gravity”and “Birdcage,” the four-piece have returned with a group of songs that, in the view of vocalist Lucas Woodland, are the truest representation of Holding Absence to date. “This album is about telling stories that are presented through the lens of hindsight, regret and looking back,” he says. “There are songs that celebrate life when faced with death, and others that speak to the choices we make about how we live our lives. The fear of love, newfound respect for life and the covering up of depression are all subjects that rear their head. The Greatest Mistake Of My Life exercises emotion in many ways, and that was an important thing for us to do, because emotion isn’t rigid –it’s not just love or joy or sadness –it’s a lot of things.” Inspired by a song of the same name that was recorded in the 1930s by actor and singer Dame Gracie Fields, The Greatest Mistake Of My Life is rooted in a time long before Holding Absence even existed. Lucas’ great uncle covered the song during the 1950s –something the frontman repeats on this album –and after finding this out from his grandmother, the singer decided the poignancy of its words were worthy of titling Holding Absence’s next record. “It felt like I’d stumbled across something special,” Lucas explains of his family’s connection to The Greatest Mistake Of My Life. “After playing the track to Scott [Carey, guitar], we agreed it was a perfect title. It tied in to how we wanted this album to be cinematic and timeless. We close the record with a cover of that song, which is essentially an homage to the original and its strange relationship with my family.” Holding Absence – the band completed by bassist James Joseph and drummer Ashley Green –carry the The Greatest Mistake Of My Life’s contemplative and thoughtful spirit throughout their second album. Whereas their debut was a concept record about the subject of love, The Greatest Mistake Of My Life’s inspirations are more complex, as Holding Absence stare down love in the face of death, all the while musing on the vast array of emotions we as humans experience throughout our lives.
Tracklistings
Side A
1. awake
2. Celebration Song
3. Curse Me With Your Kiss
4. Afterlife
5. Drugs and Love
Side B
1. In Circles
2. nomoreroses
3. Beyond Belief
4. Die Alone (In Your Lover's Arms)
Side C
1. phantoms
2. Mourning Song
3. The Greatest Mistake Of My Life
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