Dave - PSYCHODRAMA

Dave - PSYCHODRAMA

Your debut is your chance to make your mark early. After all, first impressions are essential in the age of streaming. Look at Arctic Monkeys, The 1975 and the countless other British artists that kickstarted their career off of an arrival that blew doors off hinges. And yet, to consider PSYCHODRAMA to be a debut seems to undersell its artist. Already somewhat of a household name after two massively successful EP’s, and with PSYCHODRAMA confidently battling the return of Foals and Dido for the number one spot on the charts, Dave (aka Santan Dave) looks poised to emerge into the spotlight. 

A concept album revolving around a year of therapy, PSYCHODRAMA examines the intricate social realities of being black, British, working class and depressed. An emotional powerhouse, and one of the best hip hop albums to emerge from the UK in years, everything about this record seems calculated and compelling. From its unsubtle cover art (Dave, alone, set against a black background, his head engulfed in blue flame) to its unflinching, often brutal, realism, the London native’s inaugural LP is a masterclass in contemporary hip hop and poetic dexterity.

Known and appreciated for his intricate lyricism (it’s what won him an Ivor Novella), mental wellness, abuse, relationships and inequality all spend time under Daves microscope. He has a keen eye for the complex, and it’s no different on PSYCHODRAMA, with each line appearing to have been edited with the precision of a scalpel (The bar that stuck with me the most comes when he rejects both women and education for his music, letting them know with the line “I don't wanna do you and I, Like I'm in Leicester skippin' my lectures”). And while far from a one trick pony, with both a pianists skills and a predilection for afro-beats in his repertoire, Dave’s greatest strength has always been his candour; be it where he’s at, what he wants or how he feels. Real may respect real, but real DOES real, and there are few more realistic than Santan.

Few tracks demonstrate this better than lead single ‘Black’ which, despite its sweeping narrative, is deeply personal. It's an illuminating account that illustrates how being black and being Dave is fundamentally different from just being black itself. That’s the power of PSYCHODRAMA, it blurs the line between personal and populist. His examination of depression and injustice in Black is relevant and relatable lyrically but fused with personal experience. Calm and collected but also righteous and defiant, its subtle, dark rebellious spirit is fuelled by ominous keys and tense, gospel-esque backing vocals. It is the high point of the first of the albums three stages: ‘environment,’ ‘relationships’ and ‘social compass’ (There's something almost Shakespearean about that. It’s befitting of Dave’s skill that it doesn’t sound like hyperbole either).

It is the autobiographical context of PSYCHODRAMA that gives it its emotional weight. Take the narrative ‘Streatham’, which paints the landscape in which Dave came to be amidst waves of social commentary, propulsive beats and adroit wordplay. A context provider, it’s one of a few tracks that are essential in understanding the extent of PSYCHODRAMA’s emotional reach. Album opener ‘Psycho’ (the two should have swapped places in my opinion) would not have the same punch without them. Beginning with a recording of a conversation between Dave and his therapist, the rapper describes his mental state with the use of tight drum beats, gusty, breathless pulses and a compact delivery that encapsulates the tracks confused paranoia. Vocal artistry abounds (“I was born to be wild, I don’t want to be tamed. Talent’s in my blood and I don’t wanna be in vain… My ex-girl want to shoot a cover for Vogue, which is pretty ironic because she's top of the range”), while shocking pace changes are used to both build himself up and break himself down. Insecurities take centre stage as the musician opens up about his trust and childhood issues (“You ever fall ‘sleep ‘cause you don’t wanna be awake?”) on the first of many raw tracks.

It's not all grimaces, gritted teeth and graveyard humour, however. Take the lustful, tender sway of ‘Purple Heart’, the playful confidence of ‘Disaster’ or the tenacious bravado of ‘Location.’ Dave is adamant that there is more to him than the pain and goes out of his way to avoid being portrayed as such. Inevitably, however, the strain returns. The introspective ‘Environment’ tackles materialism and mental health while being critical of both his home and himself. Sombre and resolute, its comparably lo-fi, stripped back instrumental adds to the reflective nature on what is Dave’s most inward-looking track.

As with any composer worth his salt, Dave leaves his heavy hitters for last. While many, I am sure, are drawn to the heartbreak of ‘Drama,’ which is a message to his incarcerated brother (For good reason. It's ghostly vocal track, juttering instrumental breaks and emotionally stinging lyrics are some of the best on the album), I find myself, to this day, utterly transfixed by “Lesley.” A ‘based on true events’ story about an abusive relationship, it is an odyssey of pain, dramatic irony, loss and violence. Dave’s attempt to empower women holds little back as he takes his story-telling abilities to another level. Transcendent narrative-musical structure, a slowly ratcheting orchestral accompaniment, Spielberg worthy tension levels and an aching urgency round up the most impressive song on the album. Maybe his most impressive ever. For all its horror, ‘Lesley’ sees the birth of the next star of British music.

Psychodrama is one of the most impressive debut attempts of the streaming era. A shock to the system and an absolutely essential album, Dave’s emotional journey is to be heard to be believed and is an early contender for Album Of The Year by any metric available.