Arliston, the South London indie pop duo, have released their latest single “How In Heaven” on their own label Sob Story Records, marking the first installment from their forthcoming EP set for release in the early summer of 2023.
The track opens with dreamy electronic textures and percussive drum patterns that create an ethereal soundscape, drawing the listener in from the first note. Vocalist Jack Ratcliffe’s deep hazy vocal then takes center stage, weaving together fragments of memories that tell the story of a relationship that broke down.
In the chorus, Ratcliffe sings with incredulity, “How in heaven did I walk over you?”, questioning how he could have taken the other person for granted. The song then playfully falls back on the seemingly trivial reasons that caused the breakup, such as having different tastes in music.
The verses see the character attempting to establish individuality and self-determination, only to realize that the person they left behind was a wonderful individual who they had ignored. This introspection adds a layer of depth to the lyrics, as the character grapples with the consequences of their actions and the realization that they may have lost something truly valuable.
Arliston’s sound is expertly crafted, with their spacey production and rich harmonies creating a mesmeric blend of indie pop. The EP was mixed by Brett Shaw (The Foals, Florence and the Machine), and it shows in the seamless blending of every thread of the swirling soundscape.
Since bursting onto the scene with their critically acclaimed EP ‘Hawser’ in 2018, Arliston has amassed over 2.2 million streams on Spotify alone, as well as garnering support from BBC Radio One and Amazing Radio. They have also enjoyed editorial support from Spotify UK, featuring on playlists like ‘Most Beautiful Songs in the World’ and ‘New in Alternative’ on Apple Music. The band has received widespread critical acclaim from publications like Clash, Wonderland, Earmilk, and Notion, cementing their place in the British indie music scene.
As the band prepares to release their fourth EP, their most mature body of work to date, “How In Heaven” offers a glimpse into what listeners can expect. With expansive, large-scale songs that zero in on the Arliston sound, the duo has transformed modest ideas into a three-dimensional world of sound that is impossible to resist.
