An exciting moment for indie music fans—Arliston released their debut album, Disappointment Machine, on 7th February 2025. The London-based duo, Jack Ratcliffe and George Hasbury, have crafted a deeply introspective collection of tracks exploring unrequited love, heartbreak, and the “what ifs” that linger in your mind.
Self-proclaimed “sad song specialists,” they blend emotive storytelling with rich, atmospheric soundscapes. With influences from The National, Bon Iver, and Damian Rice, this album promises to be a powerful, immersive listening experience.
Album Details
If you’ve ever found yourself lost in thoughts of love and longing, Disappointment Machine is an album you’ll deeply connect with. Featuring a mix of minimalist pianos, layered synths, and Ratcliffe’s striking baritone, the music offers an intimate and haunting journey through heartbreak and self-reflection. One of the standout tracks, Scratches, tells the story of a couple’s argument, painting a vivid picture of regret and uncertainty. Every song in the collection carries its own emotional weight, taking you through a narrative arc that shifts from sorrow to something resembling hope.
Album highlights include Time Lost, which captures the pain of a love that never had a real chance, and The Older I Get, where Ratcliffe ponders time slipping away. Songs like Monks of Lindisfarne and Sleep Well Bean bring a touch of wry humor, proving that even amidst melancholy, there’s room for wit. And by the time you reach the final track, Stay in Brixton, you’ll feel the slow shift towards healing. Whether you’re walking through your own heartbreak or simply enjoy emotionally rich music, this album offers a beautifully crafted soundtrack to those in-between moments of life.
Band Formation
Now, imagine a chance meeting leading to a musical partnership that blends melancholy with beauty. That’s exactly what happened when Jack Ratcliffe and George Hasbury crossed paths through a mutual friend. Jack, originally from Brighton, moved to London looking for opportunities, while George, raised between Devon and Tuscany, struggled to fit in after an unconventional music education. Despite a rocky start—including Jack getting literally shocked in a practice room—the pair soon discovered their shared love for “hardcore misery.” With influences like The National and Bon Iver, Arliston was born, bringing their unique, introspective sound to life.
Musical Journey
An emotional rollercoaster awaits you in Arliston’s music, where heartache, nostalgia, and self-reflection merge into an extraordinary soundscape. Their debut album, Disappointment Machine, was impressively written in just two weeks, capturing raw emotions in real time. Jack channeled his feelings from a romantic entanglement that left him unexpectedly shaken, scribbling lyrics into his phone as a form of catharsis. The result is a collection of songs that balance sorrow and resilience, with minimalist pianos, atmospheric synths, and Jack’s deep, expressive vocals. If you’ve ever wondered about the possibilities, this album will resonate deeply with you.
The songwriting on Disappointment Machine feels deeply personal, giving you glimpses of fleeting conversations, static-filled memories, and moments of painful realization. Tracks like Time Lost capture the ache of missed opportunities, while Scratches paints a heartbreaking picture of waiting for someone who never returns. Despite the sadness woven throughout, there’s also humor—like references to Peep Show and even a song inspired by Sleep Well Beast from The National. By the closing track, Stay in Brixton, a soft glimmer of hope emerges, proving that even in heartbreak, new beginnings can bloom.
- www.facebook.com/officialarliston
- www.instagram.com/arliston
- twitter.com/arlistonband
- open.spotify.com/artist/1zdjZcUSe5thcIAIU5NRYh
