The Singles Jukebox

Writing no words would have been cheating, so here’s 500 of them instead.

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[6.00]

Micha Cavaseno: Dave always manages to work with industry peers of the UK Rap Scene and sedate their obvious bangers into coffeeshop music, almost working as a sort of soft-hands ambassador, the ‘translator’ for those who find the hoodies and screwfaces of his self-appointed peers getting lost in translation. Thankfully though, “No Words” is effective  because he has the sense to leech off the much MUCH more potent personality of MoStack to carry the record. Is this essentially a glossy attempt at selling records like “Liar Liar” and “Let It Ring” to the kids who find artists like Kojo Funds or Abra Cadabra unseemly? Easily. But does it recognize the actual strengths that made those records good? Somehow it does.
[6]

Ryo Miyauchi: Dave and MoStack’s somewhat petty Smartphone-related preoccupations add a slightly interesting quirk to an otherwise cliched claim of their power. Hiding text notifications and frustration from fabricated displays of lifestyle via Instagram: these goons are bothered by very millennial problems.
[5]

Anjy Ou: This is my new “fly and unbothered” song. Both Dave and MoStack are good singers and rappers, and their performances actually work with the instrumental and feel like integral elements of the song, as opposed to just sitting on top of it as it is with many other songs.The crisp production is killer — I especially like the end of the track where it gradually distorts and breaks up into discrete parts. This self-released track has already cracked the UK Top 30, and the Top 10 of the UK indie and R&B charts, so I think it’s safe to say Dave is poised for greatness.
[8]

Iain Mew: The half-hearted Afro Bashment moves musically leave a lot of the burden on their words to bring the personality. MoStack comes through better than Dave, but even that’s an even split — forcing “messages” and “massages” to rhyme not quite there; “says ‘fuck you’, then fucks me” much better.
[5]

Julian Axelrod: Dave’s hook finds the exact midpoint between steely and suave, delivering a long-lost Backstreet Boys ballad over glassy, dead-eyed UK trap. He seems a little sleepy on the verses until MoStack mambos around the beat, reminding Dave he can have fun and reference The Incredibles and whatnot. Their energy is infectious, egging each other on as they trade off verses. And by the time they come back to that hook, it’s even better than you remember. This Mo and Dave? That’s bangers.
[7]

Edward Okulicz: This is definitely a well-produced rap ballad banger hybrid with a strong hook that has a slightly mournful, pensive feel that doesn’t seem to gel with the words but is extremely effective. Weirdly, I feel like Dave’s been reduced to the role of a hook singer on his own track, because his verse flies by without leaving much impact beyond lifting a rhyme from a Shaggy chorus. Or maybe it’s because his presence is felt much better on his singing part? MoStack’s verses aren’t brilliant either but in throwing out more punches he lands more.
[7]

Ashley John: The foray into singing instead of rapping here isn’t unwelcome, and knowing that it’s not all Dave can do. As a stand alone, “No Words” is sluggish, but as a light reprieve after “How I Met My Ex,” it makes more sense. 
[4]