London-based rapper Dave returned the autobiographical and conceptual style of Psychodrama on The Boy Who Played The Harp, also mainly self-produced but with a vital contribution from songwriter-producer, James Blake alongside his usual cast (Jo Caleb, Jonny Leslie, Kyle Evans, Fraser T. Smith). The album displays both his emotionally gripping, diaristic writing style and his penchant for somber production. The album deals profoundly with themes of mid-life crisis, while also in its best moments, exposing a fragile state of mind, emotionally, morally and spiritually.
However, the opening track History is misleadingly a classic victory lap rap over church organ and with James Blake contributing some pitched vocals and production. Blake also constructs the cubistic 175 Months, with skittering drums, solemn a solemn bass progression and ‘babyfied’ vocal snippets, which builds a grief-stricken atmosphere for Dave’s lyrical recollections on religious guilt. The temptation of Afro-pop overcomes Dave on No Weapons, courtesy of Jim Legxacy and once again later on Raindance (feat, a hook from Tems), which crosses an Adele-ian piano ballad with Carribbean music and the catchy but bland, Marvellous (Kyle Evans) grounded by Spanish guitar.
Dave’s specialty is the cinematic combination of music, words and structure. Chapter 16 is the first track to attempt real drama, via a back and forth with fellow rapper, Kano over glassy piano and Blake’s melismatic murmuring. More impactful is the multifaceted recitation of Selfish where he raps sorrowfully undulating over a lurching beat and serene piano progression (feat. an intermezzo from Blake) before evolving into a stark classical guitar piece. This track doubles as a musical and lyrical depressive breakdown and truly exploits the choreography to create a dramatic effect. The thematic centrepiece is the 8-minute My 27th Birthday, which is beatless for the first 5 minutes and deals lyrically with moral hypocricy, the state of his career and loneliness, though the concept of his personal diary doesn’t really conclude with any revelation.
The final two tracks are produced by Fraser T. Smith – cobbled beat and classical guitar on Fairchild (feat. Nicole Blakk) and polyrhythmic piano under skittering drums on The Boy Who Played the Harp – which also happen to be 2 of the most powerful performances. The former, a gut-wretching drama about sexual assault and the latter, a bitter self-condemnation that redeems itself through the reveal of the titular metaphor.
It is an uneven work from Dave that doesn’t quite match his best but he has few competitors in his signature style of rap-drama. He also demonstrates a very natural musicality in his rapping .
Losing My Edge Rating: 6/10
Best Tracks: Selfish, The Boy Who Played the Harp
Released: 24 October, 2025
Label: Neighbourhood Recordings