Arliston’s new single, “What Did I Think Would Happen,” serves as a haunting opening to their forthcoming album, Disappointment Machine. The track delicately lays out the narrative of unrequited love, immersing listeners in an atmosphere filled with both warmth and emotional rawness. The sound design cleverly mimics the familiar clicks and whirs of a VHS tape being loaded, creating a nostalgic experience akin to a cinematic prelude, setting the stage for inevitable tragedy.
The song carries a poignant vulnerability, encapsulated in its tender piano melody, while the lyrics reflect the bruised heart of the band’s songwriter, Jack Ratcliffe. It’s a narrative steeped in guarded uncertainty—an exploration of love tinged with scars and hesitation. This emotional transparency resonates deeply, inviting listeners to connect with their own experiences of heartache.
“This song is an exercise in restraint, we tried adding lots of production, some of which stayed in as resampled. It was about finding the balance. It’s such an intimate song that we didn’t want to break that spell too frivolously.”
The immediacy of the feelings expressed in “What Did I Think Would Happen” is amplified by the first-take recordings that the band has chosen to embrace, allowing for a genuine flow of emotion throughout the production. As band member George explains, the process required a delicate balance of restraint and enhancement, striving to maintain the song’s intimate essence while also experimenting with texture and sound.
The track’s construction builds in a discordant yet captivating manner, intertwining wheezing brass with the clamoring piano. The poignant lyrics shift between the melancholic chorus and vivid snapshots of a memorable night, brought to life by Jack’s striking falsetto and contrasting lower register. As the song concludes, it fades into a haunting silence, effectively closing this chapter before the rest of the story unfolds. “What Did I Think Would Happen” is a masterful introduction, setting the stage for a deeply personal exploration in Disappointment Machine.
Watch the official video for "What Did I Think Would Happen" below: