Arliston have mastered the art of emotional whiplash, serving up a track that’s as addictive as it is depressing. ‘Vertical’ is an emotional rollercoaster that plummets you into the abyss of existential dread before catapulting you back to the light. Imagine a love child between Radiohead and The National, it’s a sprawling, melancholic masterpiece that’s as big and bold as their ambitions.

Jack Ratcliffe’s vocals are a haunting blend of vulnerability and power, like a wounded lion with a velvet roar. The music is a lush, cinematic soundscape that feels like being trapped in a dream where everything is both beautiful and terrifying. So, if you’re ready to embark on a sonic journey through the darkest corners of your soul, look no further. Arliston has you covered. Just don’t blame us if you end up crying, dancing, or contemplating the meaning of life afterwards.

“We had a lot of fun making this one, the drums initially started as a chopped up sample and then Sam (Catchpole) came in to re-play them and really made them sing and basically turned them into a lead drum part in the chorus. It’s a lot of fun to play live as it’s got a sort of anthemic energy to it and a guitar solo which sounds very un-arliston on paper, but I think it fits perfectly on the album and rounds the project out adding an energy that would otherwise be missing.” – George Hasbury

“I had in mind a character simply looking for something- keys or a wallet- in a crumpled pair of jeans on the floor. I have a habit of forgetting where things are and I wanted a song that could reflect that hazy absent mindedness. I also wanted to get across a sense of “if I can’t do even these basic things, how am I meant to ‘carry on’ and do more complex things”. This is where the title ‘Vertical’ comes from, as when I’m in that empty-minded state everything seems daunting, impossible and vertical.” – Jack Ratcliffe

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