Arliston’s ‘Disappointment Machine’ exists in liminal moments of loss, confusion and desire

Arliston is the London-based duo Jack Ratcliffe (vocalist/instrumentalist) and George Hasbury (instrumentalist/producer), who have released singles ‘Monks of Lindisfarne’, ‘Vertical’ and ‘What Did I Think Would Happen’ in the run up into their debut album Disappointment Machine (out 7th February 2025). Now the incredible title-track joins this string of introspective and intimate pieces to further complete the emotive world-building that Arliston executes so well.

La singola ‘Disappointment Machine’ è permeata da un senso di perdita, confusione e desiderio. Si ruota attorno all’idea relazionale di ripetere modelli di comportamento in cui molti di noi cadono, sia che si tratti di una scelta, di un caso o di un semplice rifiuto di cambiare. Anche se potremmo avere una comprensione più nuancata in questi giorni, questa idea è ancora vera in molte situazioni ed è quella che colpisce per l'ultimo album di Arliston ‘Disappointment Machine’.

As the band explain, “This song gets into the repeated pattern of behaviour which leads mechanically and invariably to disappointment. It also attempts to put into context the fact that it’s a ‘tiny problem’ and does not matter, but despite the attempts to minimise it, the feelings remain the same.”‍

It’s the palpable imagery of trying to hang one’s problems onto a coat hanger that proves the originality of the band’s expressive songwriting. Self-described as “sad song specialists”, songs like ‘Disappointment Machine’ captures the “liminal moments” of isolated uncertainty of that particularly fraught time of life, our late twenties and early thirties. Whether listeners are going through the fray right now, anticipating what’s to come, or reflecting on the confusion of their past, the relatability of Arliston’s songwriting is undeniable.

As well as being a stand-alone piece of art, this track fits into the wider narrative arc of the album, which will take the listeners on an emotive journey from initial, devastating heartbreak to something bordering acceptance… even a little glimmer of hope. The only way to get there is to go through and as Ratcliffe knowingly declares, staying stuck in the same cycles “doesn’t work. It won’t ever stop you from feeling the way you’re feeling.”

Disappointment Machine è anche accompagnato da un evocativo video musicale, diretto dai recenti laureati in Screenology, il regista Meriwether Freya Lewis e il produttore Milly Ruston, che cattura una miscela unica di umorismo e introspezione. Filmato intorno a Bristol, il video segue un monaco, interpretato da Cailum Carragher, che lascia il tranquillo santuario del suo monastero in cerca di qualcosa di più - solo per scoprire che la connessione che cerca può essere un'illusione. Ispirata alla tradizione amish di Rumspringa, la narrazione riflette il fascino dell’avventura e delle esperienze mondane, mentre suggerisce anche l’atteggiamento duraturo della solitudine e del compimento spirituale. Arliston confronta il viaggio del monaco con il tema della canzone di cercare una connessione con un'intensità che a volte può accecarci alla verità sulla persona, o il bersaglio, all'altra parte.

Collaborating with Freya and her team allowed Arliston to focus solely on storytelling, and the result is a beautifully balanced piece that mixes humor with sincere self-reflection. This thoughtful exploration of “fool’s gold” perfectly mirrors Arliston’s introspective musical style, transforming a simple story into a powerful metaphor for finding meaning in unexpected places.

The outfit’s key influences like The National, Bon Iver, and Damien Rice come through in their wide-ranging elements and crisp production, drawing out what they affectionately call “hardcore misery”.

Arliston, Disappointment Machine, Official Video musicale:

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