As someone who’s been following Arliston closely over the past few months, I have to say their new single, "What Did I Think Would Happen", feels like a culmination of everything I’ve come to love about the band. From the moment I pressed play, I was hooked. There’s something about the way Jack Ratcliffe’s voice cuts through the ambient warmth of the track that just hits differently—it’s intimate, raw, and wrapped in this beautifully melancholic energy that’s impossible to shake. What really stands out to me in "What Did I Think Would Happen" is how restrained yet emotionally charged it feels. The delicate piano melody leads you in like you’re about to relive a memory you’d rather forget but can’t help returning to. The song seems to build up tension without ever going over the top, and that’s where its power lies. There’s no need for big, sweeping gestures because the emotions are already so palpable in every note, every lyric. I think what I appreciate most is the honesty here. Jack’s songwriting feels deeply personal, like he’s sharing a part of himself that’s both vulnerable and guarded. It’s not polished, but that’s what makes it feel real. This track, and by extension the upcoming album Disappointment Machine, feels like a natural progression for Arliston. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s left me eager to hear the rest of what they have in store.
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