Infinite Shuffle

The recent resurgence of all-girl groups on the indie scene reached a peak with bands such as Vivian Girls and Dum Dum Girls channeling the sounds of the late 1950s/early ’60s.

A couple of years later, Best Coast took that sound, cut the harmonizing down to one female voice and added a lo-fi, surfer/slacker vibe.

Now Cults comes along, with female vocalist Madeline Follin, who sounds like she could’ve been a member of The Shangri-Las or some other group from that era. Paired with instrumentalist and backup vocalist Brian Oblivion, the Manhattan duo has taken the girl-group sound back to its roots and slowed things down with a slightly gothy layer.

Cults – Bumper

The two New York University students formed a band in 2010 and rose to prominence when they released a three-song EP. In June 2011, Cults put out a self-titled full-length debut, to much critical praise.

Cults – Go Outside

The production seems sparse, but it’s complex enough that it’s inviting and not annoying.

Follin’s vocals call to mind a hybrid sound of contemporary singers Bethany Costenzo (Best Coast) and Zola Jesus.

Cults – Never Heal Myself