Bôser is a new collaboration between Toronto fixtures Jonathan Hyde and Vivienne Wilder. Initial single “bsrbtch” dropped in May and follow-up EP Loser followed in June. The songs are crackly, lo-fi and tons of fun.

Opener “Send Nukes” kicks off with an air raid siren before the distorted electronic drum kit and fuzzy bass that anchor the project kick in. Wilder’s voice sounds bored and disaffected yet playful at the same time as she drifts through the song’s catchy chorus hook: “winter sucks / send nukes”. “Pest Control” rings of late-era Joy Division and is augmented by snappy synth lines. Closer “Sky Cops” has a call and response that makes for an incurable earworm.

Loser is digitally messy. A scatterbrained experience with song structures that twist and weave unpredictably. The fact that these ideas stick more often than not suggests a distinctly calculated effort. Especially when there’s pop brilliance lurking beneath. I’ll be keeping my eye out for future releases.

Loser is available digitally.