26 Dec 2024
Mac Summer - Single Review: Web of Life
16 Nov 2021 // A review by Gwarden
Mac Summer may be a brand new name to drum & bass fans, but this new alter ego comes from Malcolm Welsford, who has been involved in the NZ music scene for over 30 years, most famously as the man behind the legendary York Street Recording Studios. Having
produced a range of guitar-based Kiwi bands from Shihad to Supergroove, he has perhaps surprisingly turned to electronic music production
with this foray into the saturated drum & bass market.
Mac Summer may be a brand new name to drum & bass fans, but this new alter ego comes from Malcolm Welsford, who has been involved in the NZ music scene for over 30 years, most famously as the man behind the legendary York Street Recording Studios. Having
produced a range of guitar-based Kiwi bands from Shihad to Supergroove, he has perhaps surprisingly turned to electronic music production
with this foray into the saturated drum & bass market.
Coming off the back of moody dancefloor debut Hands in Our Tills, new single Web of Life continues on the dancefloor tip. Blending liquid elements, crowd-pleasing melodies and an easily-digestible format, it fits readily into the Lee Mvtthews-esque sound popular on student radio. Undoubtedly the biggest draw here is Summer’s gorgeous vocals: a soaring and versatile tenor reminiscent of Gramsci’s Paul McLaney, it does the heavy lifting on a fairly pedestrian beat and basic 808 bassline.
Orchestral flourishes help flesh out the sound, and a second breakdown finds a female vocal entering the fray, providing a nice contrast. However, there’s a lack of impactful drop, or something truly unique to elevate the tune beyond disposable pop confectionery. Production quality in drum & bass has reached such a level that for a tune to stand out or have real longevity, it needs to bring either something new, or something startling, and while Web of Life is perfectly fine and likely a candidate for George FM rotation, Summer has a way to go to break into more mainstream (or even underground) recognition.
Web of Life is available now.
Rating:
( 3 / 5 )
About Mac Summer
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Mac Summer
Releases
There are no releases to display for Mac Summer.
Other Reviews By Gwarden
DeLaye - EP Review: Blankspace.
17 Nov 2021 // by Gwarden
20 year old producer DeLaye creates music that defies easy description. Inhabiting the experimental electronic space pioneered by the likes of Aphex Twin and championed by modern masters such as Flying Lotus and Four Tet, his music features fat glitch-hop bass kicks and chopped beats anchoring sonic explorations that ebb and flow with intent.
Read More...
EM/FM - Album Review - Quixote
03 Nov 2021 // by Gwarden
Fitting snugly into the still-relatively underground retrowave sound (an umbrella term loosely used to describe the synthwave/vaporwave microgenres), EM/FM’s debut LP Quixote taps directly into the 80’s nostalgia vein and mines it for woozy pathos and dreamy yearning. Utilising many of the hallmarks of 80’s synth-heavy composers and movie soundtracks, from Phil Collins-esque reverbed drums, plucked bass twang, and all the analog synth tones you could dream of, it’s a fascinating re-composition of elements elevated to pastiche by focusing on real emotion and modern songwriting.
Read More...
Hotel Death Star - Single Review: The Daylight
10 Sep 2021 // by Gwarden
Hotel Death Star are a relatively new duo, finding life in 2020 when singer-songwriter Phil Stoodley collaborated with composer-producer Andreas Arianto to craft their interpretation of melodic deep-house blended with more traditional songwriting elements. Fans of electronic genres will find plenty to like here, but crossover appeal might be limited.
Read More...
Shapeshifter - Album Review: Rituals
17 Aug 2021 // by Gwarden
Shapeshifter (affectionately known as ‘Shapies’ by fans) are a New Zealand music institution. With over 2 decades of live shows, 4 EPs, 5 full-length studio albums, a handful of music awards and a reputation as the best live Drum & Bass act in the world, they’re both revered locally and ambassadors of the sound worldwide.
Read More...
Gig Review: Shapeshifter @ Christchurch Town Hall - 30/07/2021
02 Aug 2021 // by Gwarden
Back on the road after a few months of downtime, Shapeshifter return for a national tour in support of their seventh studio album Rituals. Kicking things off in their hometown Otautahi, the Christchurch Town Hall was host to another explosive, uplifting performance by one of NZs most treasured and traveled live acts.
Read More...
Truth - Album Review: Acceptance
23 Jul 2021 // by Gwarden
Low-tempo maestros Truth return to their Deep, Dark and Dangerous imprint with a long-player of sublime electronica. Billed as their most personal album to date, Acceptance captures the duo at their most introspective, a response to a world in crisis evoked as nostalgia-inducing reveries and cavernous meditations.
Read More...
Anna Wild - EP Review: WOOL
22 Dec 2020 // by Gwarden
WOOL is the first project from Wellington-based artist Anna Wild, and it comprises 3 ambient/electronic instrumental tracks in conjunction with a 10 minute short film providing visual accompaniment. This visual EP was created to go hand-in-hand; while the music can certainly be absorbed on its own, it’s through the film (directed and animated by Taizan Yamada) that the depth of meaning shines through.
Read More...
Oakley Grenell - EP Review: Style Dem Ripe
18 Nov 2020 // by Gwarden
Oakley Grenell caps off 2020 with a wicked dancefloor-oriented EP showcasing a range of vocalists over bouncy, bass-fuelled tunes with a trademark reggae flair. A few years in the making, it’s another solid addition to an already impressive discography.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- APT.
ROSÉ And Bruno Mars - DIE WITH A SMILE
Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars - BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Billie Eilish - TASTE
Sabrina Carpenter - I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
Gracie Abrams - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - SAILOR SONG
Gigi Perez - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
Shaboozey - GOOD LUCK, BABE!
Chappell Roan
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
Custom Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
