There is something in the water in Ireland - the music, specifically punk and post-punk music, being produced both north and south of the border is consistently phenomenal. Fontaines DC, The Murder Capital, Kneecap, Problem Patterns and plenty more have established a scene of such fruitfulness, and 2024 shows signs of continuing this pattern with Sprints’ debut offering, 'Letter to Self’.
Sprints have already been championed by BBC 6 Music, with cuts from their Nice Swan released EP A Modern Job getting decent rotation: their tunes are noisy and anthemic, big grungy, fuzzy cuts set to words depicting self-loathing and inadequacy, as well as the stresses and anxieties of living as a queer woman in a Catholic environment. These themes continue throughout the debut to fantastic effect. The opening trio are a face-melting series of punk tunes: the band have clearly perfected the ‘loud-quiet-loud’ technique used by bands like Pixies and Nirvana. The verses often drive along to thunderous drums (Jack Callan) and meaty basslines (Sam McCann), before the guitars (Colm O’Reilly) and vocals of Karla Chubb come crashing in, kicking the track up a gear into a moshpit-inspiring reverie. They do this with such talent, its clear that the band have done their time in sweaty, dingy live rooms perfecting their act.
Shaking Their Hands is a more tender moment, with acoustic guitar parts layered over the fuzzy lead guitar. The tone of the cut is melancholic, which suits Chubb’s lyrical themes down to the ground. The tunes on this record are a step up from their already strong earlier work. They have honed their sound exceptionally over the year or so since A Modern Job.
Lead single, Adore Adore Adore comes crashing in next. The number is one of the strongest on the album - it’s infectiously catchy, both the lyrics and rhythm of this song will live inside your head for weeks, and it’s another prime example of Sprints breaking their tracks down to drum-led anthemic, pit-opening parts before a massive guitar part crashes in from left field, knocking you for six. Shadow of A Doubt is the centrepiece of the record and another high point. It’s mature and melancholy, filled with loss and longing, a superbly placed and timed guitar solo, and a guttural scream from Chubb which is seriously the cherry on the cake. This tune is the best song Sprints have written. Can’t Get Enough of It is a companion piece to its predecessor, where Chubb continues to reckon with her trauma in a repeated refrain of “And I can’t sleep, And I can’t dream, And I can’t sleep, And I can’t leave.”
The rest of the record plays out in a similar style: ‘Letter to Self’ really shows Sprints announcing themselves with a colossal bang. ‘Up and Comer’ is another huge moment on the record, where Chubb wrestles with the innate sexism in the industry and rages against it to great effect. The record is packed with immeasurable despair, rage and sadness, but ultimately the piece leaves you with a glimmer of hope, and self-awareness.
It’s only the first week of January and we already have a massive marker in the sand and a contender for album of the year. Sprints are on an endlessly upward trajectory with songs like these. No doubt the record will go down a treat in the live arena too.
"LETTER TO SELF"
TO BE RELEASED ON 5 JANUARY 2024
