Spectreview: Dave – Psychodrama

-ELECTRIC INDIGO-

“I could be the rapper with the message like you’re hoping
But what’s the point in me being the best if no one knows it?”

American listeners immersed in the vibrancy of their country’s hip-hop landscape may be unaware of the mononymous Dave and his current fame as a UK rapper, but these listeners may find a lot to like in his newest album, Psychodrama. Its structure somewhat recalls Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, which isn’t always a good thing; comparatively the beats lean on the side of unoriginal (although Dave’s self-performed piano tracks stand out), and the album’s overarching concept of a trip to the therapist is decidedly played-out by now. The real reason for attendance, though, is his lyrical talents. Conscious hip-hop is tough enough to execute without sounding overly didactic or cliche’, but Dave consistently manages to pull it off solely through the power of his writing. The best songs on Psychodrama are gobsmacking: his honest words about the music industry in “Environment” settle like a rock in your stomach, while his musings on the complexities of being “Black” sear with clarity. 11-minute epic “Lesley” also stuns, a sickening account of a woman in an abusive relationship that shifts into a plea for others in her position to get help. Even on more typical flex tracks Dave finds distinctly creative ways to flaunt his successes, firing off double entredres and specificities about London’s hangout locales. It’s sometimes hard not to roll your eyes at Psychodrama’s ham-fisted attempt at a story arc, but Dave’s considerable gift with a pen undeniably lifts the album onto a higher plane. Watch this space.

Recommended for impressionable young lads.