“We agonise too much. There’s a lot of agony in this band,” laughs John Duignan. Far from a drawback their caution might be considered a strength: by proceeding with care Duignan and We Cut Corners bandmate Conall O’Breachain have carved a career over which they have complete control and can fit around their fulltime jobs as teachers.

“In teaching there is lots of scope for a career break. We have managed to strike a balance we are comfortable with,” says John.

Has jacking in the day job ever been mooted?

“We do talk about it all the time, take the prospect very seriously. It would be a massive jump,” says Conall. “In Ireland the reality is you can only play 20 shows a year maximum. Obviously that’s not enough to sustain you. Which is why we work. It would be lovely to be able to do 150 shows a year. You can’t do that based here.”

“At the same time it gives us lots of creative freedom,” he adds. “We can start the album with a 20-second a capella introduction and don’t have to worry that it will turn people off or won’t get played on radio. From that point of view, it is a really good thing.”

The duo are on the promo trail for second long-player, Think Nothing. The record was produced by Tommy McLaughlin of Villagers fame and is as charming as its predecessor, veering in trademark style between hushed taut ballads and incendiary polemics.

“We were actually doing a couple of dates with Villagers and Tommy had this window of availability. We leaped at it,” explains John.

“With the first album we had used a lot of effects. Even though it’s ostensibly John and I performing drums and guitar, we used lots of distortions and delays,” notes Conall. “On this record we went for a different approach. We wanted it to sound brighter, with more clarity.”

As with the previous record brevity is king, most tracks clocking in under three minutes.

“We have always suscribed to the notion of trying to shave as much fat off the songs as we can,” explains Conall. “Also, when there’s only two of you in the band, there’s less scope for solos. John can’t be afforded the luxury of wigging out. I certainly can’t either!”

Over the last few years they have kept busy on the live circuit and have regularly played in the UK and further afield. They notched up their first US jaunt at CMJ in 2013, performing four gigs, and also traveled to Russia for a showcase event.

“It was probably the biggest Irish love-in that we’ve had,” laughs John. “We got to know Delorentos, The Walls and Mundy who were all brilliant. Moscow was an amazing city to visit. The crowds were really different. [famous Belfast scenester] Terri Hooley had been over the week before – and the locals were still talking about him, he had made such an impression!”

In their own way we’re sure they did too.

Think Nothing is out now on Delphi. We Cut Corners play The Workman’s Club, Dublin on May 9 as part of their Irish tour.