Dublin-based Burglar (Eduardo Pinheiro and Willow Hannon), Tulle Collective’s latest signing, reportedly formed over a shared love for acts like Fugazi, Stereolab and the Smashing Pumpkins.

Following a well-received showcase during Ireland Music Week, the duo have released their debut single “No Easy Way Out”, toured with UK rockers Ugly, and sold out shows in Dublin and London. The band also released “Mousetrap” last month, complete with a video directed by Hannon with Cathal Eustace.

As you may expect from a title like Unlucky, the EP is less than cheerful fare. Opening with “No Easy Way Out”, Sleater Kinney-esque interlocking riffs underpin lyrics that recall doomed romances and all the low self-worth and negativity that comes along with that, taking a brief left turn into slowed acoustics before delving back into slacker-pop ramshackle.

This gives way to highlight “Fate Fades”, an inescapably catchy slice of doom-pop adorned with flanged guitars, tastefully sputtering synths and solid drum fills. The listless vocal styles prove increasingly charming with repeated listens, Pinheiro sounding like a jilted lover who’s been burned too many times, Hannon coming across more sweet, but guarded and detached.

“Mousetrap” is where the Fugazi and Stereolab comparisons truly come to the fore – the classic college rock soft/loud dynamics, the tense string-bent-to-the-verge-of-snapping in lieu of a chorus, the carefully woven co-lead vocals on the verses, the Parisian café key triads. Erstwhile, Hannon is given centre-stage on the lo-fi, tremelo tinged “Washing Machines”, proves a fitting, moody closer.

While it’s not be the most original sounding collection of tracks ever produced, it’s dripping with sincerity, owing to Pinheiro’s confessional lyricism and the duo’s studied approach to the sound they’re emulating. Burglar may still be figuring out their identity at this point, but the chops are there.