Sprints are a 'garage punk' act from Dublin who have released a string of quality singles since 2020. With a debut long player this good they may well have shot themselves in the foot when it comes to writing their difficult second album. I knew it would be good but I didn't expect it to be this good. They have surpassed themselves in terms of translating the emotional facets of music onto the vinyl format. Letter To Self is a serious, heavy duty, meaty album with a visceral honesty - if this album was any more raw it would be served on Masterchef.

It's rawness however belies a quality of songwriting with hooks, riffs and production of the top most order.

Most of the tracks build, giving the listener the chance to appreciate each element as it is introduced which, with a record so emotionally charged, is useful as you do engage on a level that might not have been expected due to the confessional nature of the album. Karla Chubb, the singer and lyricist told musomuso that “Letter to Self is the compilation of all our life experiences, emotions and adventures so far. Confessional and autobiographical - it's our most honest work to date and we're absolutely BUZZING for it to be out!" and it shows. 

It's an album full of highlights, which goes on a journey both exciting and fulfilling. It sounds remarkably smooth and well produced, the grittiness coming from the delivery, not some purposeful studio lo-fi set up. Fan favourite ‘Literary Mind’ has been rerecorded and sounds jubilant with the bass brought up the mix and the vocals clearer. If there's any justice ‘Shadow of a Doubt’ should have the same longevity as Radiohead's Creep, it's a classic.

By the time you've made you way to the tumbling, occasionally feedback ridden chaos of the title track (positioned as last song) you feel like you are no longer merely listeners, consumers and fans of the band, you feel like you're honoured friends who are trusted implicitly with the truth of Sprints' lives. The spoken word outro is genius too, like the subtitles at the end of a true crime movie, further embedding the reality of what you've just experienced.

This is just the start for the Sprints so to misquote the movie Jaws - if this is garage punk "we're going to need a bigger garage." Sprints are here to stay and fuck, does it feel good!

Buy the album (along with other merch) HERE

Words by Rich Dunn