We Speak Music
Arliston ‘Disappointment Machine’ Is The Soundtrack to Your Existential Crisis (And You’ll Love Every Second of It)
Every now and then, an album comes along that feels like it was made for staring at the ceiling at 2 AM, wondering where it all went wrong. Arliston’s, Disappointment Machine, is that album—but in the best possible way. With its blend of atmospheric instrumentals and gut-punch lyricism, this debut is a love letter to anyone who has ever overthought a text message, regretted the one that got away, or found comfort in their own sadness.
Arliston, the London duo of Jack Ratcliffe and George Hasbury, have perfected the art of the slow burn. Their songs unfold gradually, each note and lyric sinking in like an old memory you can’t quite shake. Take ‘Scratches’, for example—it’s not just a song about a fight; it’s about the space between two people, the quiet waiting, the aching uncertainty. It’s devastatingly simple, yet completely mesmerizing.
But don’t mistake this album for pure sadness—there’s beauty in every note. Ratcliffe’s velvety vocals glide over Hasbury’s intricate arrangements, creating a soundscape that’s equal parts haunting and soothing. The production is meticulous, with each synth swell and piano chord placed just so, creating a world that feels rich, immersive, and impossibly cinematic.
The real magic of, Disappointment Machine, lies in its relatability. Arliston doesn’t just sing about love and loss; they capture the little moments that make heartbreak so painfully human. The hesitation before a goodbye. The quiet hope that maybe, just maybe, things could have been different. The way memories linger like a favorite song you can’t stop replaying.
If you’ve ever had your heart broken—or just like to pretend you have—this album will hit you in all the right places. Put on your headphones, dim the lights, and let, Disappointment Machine, remind you that sadness, when done right, can be absolutely breathtaking.
When the “Iron City” links up with Los Angeles no weak emcees are safe! Dropping today is Iron Angeles, the eleven track LP that combines Reagan Era Records lynchpin Dios Negasi on rhymes with production from Pittsburgh’s Tone Fultz. First single “What It Is” (also featuring a verse from Reagan Era’s Skrillz Dior) is hard-as-nails, head-nodding boom-bap greatness. As the producer states “though the Steel City is a cloudy and dark place and Los Angeles is known for its sunny weather, the two have a long history of creating legendary music together including Mel-Man and Sam Sneed’s work with Dr. Dre and Bud’Da’s producing ‘Bow Down’ for Westside Connection.” This extends to the album voice-over which makes the project feel like a long-lost blaxploitation action flick of the grimiest proportions.
Listen to “What It Is” ft. Skrillz Dior: https://youtu.be/VYSWIfN-h9E?si=2AywABT93tQ2qRrX
While Dios Negasi is known for producing his own tracks (including the recent single “Domingre Gang” featuring Young Zee) and Tone Fultz also rocks the mic in his alter-ego Messiah Of Madness, both artists stick to one role here. As Tone relates, “Dios and I have been like brothers over the past few years. I come to Los Angeles regularly to dig records, and he mentioned he was slowing down on production to focus more on rhyming. Meanwhile I was in a producer zone so I started cooking up beats specifically for this project. I came to visit when a bunch of tracks and as we cooked up in the studio, members of Reagan Era came through and it was a totally organic process.”
More Info: https://www.instagram.com/diosnegasi/
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