Single Review: Web of Life

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.