U.K. CHARTS: DAVE WINS THE RACE

British rapper Dave has emerged victorious in an incredibly close chart battle with Foals. His debut, Psychodrama (Neighbourhood), topped Foals’ Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost–Part 1 (Warner Bros.) by just 279 combined sales.

Dave’s triumph was largely won on 23.6m streams, which make up 79% of the final sales figure of more than 26k combined sales.

Dave has been developed and managed by Benny Scarrs and Jack Foster, whose label/management firm Neighbourhood is under the Method group of companies. Psychodrama follows #1 single “Funky Friday” f/Fredo, which hit the top of the charts last year.

Foals’ Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost–Part 1 is their fourth album to reach Top 5. Dido is #3 with her fifth studio album and first in six years, Still On My Mind (BMG), followed by Sigrid with her debut, Sucker Punch (Island), at #4. Further down, Paul Weller also makes a Top 10 debut with his new live album, Other Aspects–Live At The Royal Albert Hall (Parlophone), at #10.

On the Official Singles Chart, Dave has the three highest new entries with “Disaster” f/J Hus at #8, “Streatham” at #9 and “Location” f/Burna Boy at #11.

Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved” (Virgin EMI) spends a third week at #1 with nearly 7m streams across the last seven days. Calvin Harris and Rag’n’Bone Man’s “Giant” (Columbia) is 5.6k combined sales behind at #2, while Mabel’s “Don’t Call Me Up” (Polydor) stays at #3.

Ariana Grande is another non-mover at #4 with “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” (Island), while Sam Smith and Normani’s "Dancing With A Stranger” (Capitol) climbs two places to return to the Top 5.