Review: Seth Sentry – Strange New Past
Australian hip-hop artist Seth Sentry is back with a different vibe for his new longplayer, Strange New Past. It’s a mind-boggle. There’s a creative mixture of the classic cheekiness Sentry encompasses, as well as his observational nature, however Strange New Past is, on the surface, a disjointed collection of thoughts that shows someone with a dual-personality.
There’s two parts to this album; a real story of everyday life through situations, issues and thoughts, and a chaotic, witty and humorous tale of a man remembering his childhood.
Opening track ‘How Are You’, brings back Sentry’s trademark light wit that is, of course, maintained through the remaining tracks.
‘Run’ is lyrically a trip down memory lane, reliving any Aussie’s childhood growing up riding bikes and skateboards. It directly encompasses that cheekiness and humour that Sentry brings to his music.
Album hit, ‘Hell Boy’ is a fiery, punchy, alter-egoistic tune that has eventuated out of the deepest realms of imagination and creativity.
The maturity the Melburnian has gone through since his 2012 debut album This Was Tomorrow can be seen in ‘Fake Champagne’. It’s a look into an internal struggle to move from a boy to a man, and essentially moving past the make-believe to find your place in society.
In saying that, ‘Pripyat Pt 1’ and ‘Pripyat Pt 2’ are by-far the most advanced tracks and really shows how far Sentry has come.
Pt 1 is a slower, deeper vibe which acts as an introduction into Pt 2. This is where a real story unfolds and, to me, is a welcomed raw and honest insight into Sentry’s creative mind. This slow-down is the perfect mixture of Sentry’s vocals, nostalgic guest female vocals, story-telling and triumphant production techniques. It’s the absolute hero of the album… and of Sentry’s career.
Album ender ‘Sorry’ is a softer sound, providing a much prettier contrast to the calamity of the other tracks. Perhaps it is an actual apology for the bipolar nature of the album.
My advice is to really listen to the lyrics as they will provide a fluidity between what seems like a chaotic mess, and prove that it is a creative goldmine.
Strange New Past is out today via Inertia.
Review by Annastasia Robertson.
