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The chillwave hot streak has come and gone, but one local button-pusher, McWolf, the Allston-based bedroom pop outfit of Welly Netto, has kept the synthfunk dream alive. His latest release, 4 songs off a split with Brooklyn’s Shanghai Beach, graduates from lo-fi, but retains a minimalist rhythmic feel. While tracks like “TIME FOR US TO GO NOW” could fit nicely on the soundtrack to a beach level for “Sonic the Hedgehog,” with breezy and vibrant powerpop movements, “HIGHLANDS” hones in on the artist’s vocal craft more than any of his previous releases, showing both progression and a growing confidence. All this kid needs now is a backing band to continue adding dimensionality to his sound.
